tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23727265045439141392018-02-16T00:53:32.872-05:00Coffee on the Porch with Mecoffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-53834290902101573112018-02-13T20:38:00.000-05:002018-02-13T20:38:03.634-05:00Pancake TuesdayShrove Tuesday, Mardis Gras (literally translates as fat Tuesday)... Thank goodness tonight's supper was a no-brainer. I've been reading other bloggers' ways of eating and preparing pancakes, and many of these people live in England, or Wales. Some of them wrote about eating pancakes with lemon and sugar, or even orange juice and sugar. This is a completely foreign (literally) concept to me. Here's how this Canadian does a pancake supper (or breakfast for supper). Please understand this is NOT a typical breakfast. It might be a weekend brunch, but nobody I know eats this much for breakfast.<br /><br />First, the best way to make bacon is not on the stove, where grease spits and flies around and makes a ridiculous mess of your stove top. Instead, cook it in the oven. Line a big cookie sheet with foil and create little walls around the edges.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rV9pXNmllvg/WoNzVKc0KQI/AAAAAAAADvI/bgA2W5Aqgz0PSqtt6HwSkY8jRmEdPOFVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rV9pXNmllvg/WoNzVKc0KQI/AAAAAAAADvI/bgA2W5Aqgz0PSqtt6HwSkY8jRmEdPOFVgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2284.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>My cookie sheets are old and ugly. I have not attempted any of the Pinterest methods of using hydrogen peroxide and Dawn dish soap, or whatever the concoction is.(And why does it always have to be<i> Dawn</i>?)&nbsp; My cookie sheets have the patina of love and overuse.<br /><br />Next, get the bacon. Bacon that is cut in strips. Let's clear up this whole Canadian bacon thing. In Canada, nobody calls it Canadian bacon. And what other countries refer to as Canadian bacon, is, I think what we would call back bacon, or peameal bacon which is more like ham. This particular bacon that I bought is "thick cut". I prefer the regular kind, but there seems to be some sort of scammy thing going on with bacon (oh the horror!) where we pay just as much, but the slices are much thinner, to the point of ripping them to shreds when you try to separate them. So, I went for the thick slices this time.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OI31sb5EALo/WoN0rIfpIFI/AAAAAAAADvU/HLT5u8D2FAsnE3Ou86_mExSdDbxdp5H5QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OI31sb5EALo/WoN0rIfpIFI/AAAAAAAADvU/HLT5u8D2FAsnE3Ou86_mExSdDbxdp5H5QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2285.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Lay the bacon on the tinfoil trying not to overlap. Put it in the oven and turn the oven to 400 degrees, or 375, or 425, it doesn't really matter because you are going to be watching it carefully anyway. Soon your kitchen will smell like bacon heaven.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyrCe2PFYOk/WoN1F1QeCsI/AAAAAAAADvY/P9rAuBug62YtNfCwvqlhNNfOtCZC9KVAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gyrCe2PFYOk/WoN1F1QeCsI/AAAAAAAADvY/P9rAuBug62YtNfCwvqlhNNfOtCZC9KVAgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2286.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />At this time, I also opened up a can of beans. I'm not a huge fan of beans, but the husband likes them with "breakfast for supper."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESQOW2paubI/WoOPVwgHXbI/AAAAAAAADvo/B1ISeXfLm7oNBe1P4P85lApvVaBaDdHEwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ESQOW2paubI/WoOPVwgHXbI/AAAAAAAADvo/B1ISeXfLm7oNBe1P4P85lApvVaBaDdHEwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This was from the CASE of beans he bought when we went to Costco. Who needs a case of beans?? We'll be eating them throughout 2018!<br /><br />Yes, yes, I have made pancakes from scratch. But it's Tuesday and I work and all I had to do was "just add water" to this!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHQ6f4fg6jQ/WoOP3GoPKFI/AAAAAAAADvw/OxY-70Eh-FMX5mZuJGhK5MCh6GBdh3xxwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YHQ6f4fg6jQ/WoOP3GoPKFI/AAAAAAAADvw/OxY-70Eh-FMX5mZuJGhK5MCh6GBdh3xxwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2288.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Husband was in charge of eggs while I took care of pancakes and watching the bacon in the oven so it was cooked to perfection (i.e. nothing too wobbly). You would think pancakes would be the easiest thing in the world, but I'm often not great at them. I either flip them too soon, or they're too flat, or not fluffy enough or the pan isn't hot enough. The first couple are always worthy of throwing away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h91G1wFLhu4/WoOQeFBJiqI/AAAAAAAADv4/uwDWopTe4_c4g6f97XLRB2c8uChCOv7SwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h91G1wFLhu4/WoOQeFBJiqI/AAAAAAAADv4/uwDWopTe4_c4g6f97XLRB2c8uChCOv7SwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2290.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Not even round, and I'm pretty sure I can see the face of Christ in one of them!<br /><br />Ahhh, but you can forgive me my pancake sins, because here is the bacon, resting on its blanket of paper towel to soak up the grease thus making it even crispier.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvymn7TiBww/WoOQ3eDB4EI/AAAAAAAADv8/jWl1EQ3t8TsFr590UqX12PWNAIKs-17FACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tvymn7TiBww/WoOQ3eDB4EI/AAAAAAAADv8/jWl1EQ3t8TsFr590UqX12PWNAIKs-17FACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2289.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This is some super hefty bacon. Again, it would have been crispier if it was the "regular" slice and not the "thick" slice. But it tasted fine.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-siKdYx6HsqM/WoORLtbbtBI/AAAAAAAADwE/3LYRYJ3eJusHMejN7aTMm0kHKh1gZrl5gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-siKdYx6HsqM/WoORLtbbtBI/AAAAAAAADwE/3LYRYJ3eJusHMejN7aTMm0kHKh1gZrl5gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2291.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>And there you have it. Egg with ketchup, pancakes with butter and maple syrup, bacon, and orange juice. I'll pass on the beans, thank you. Fat Tuesday.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-54277543098731147022018-02-10T19:38:00.000-05:002018-02-10T19:38:29.754-05:00A Different SupperI tend to get bored with the same meals. I need to change things up fairly often, whereas my husband would be content to have a "Monday meal", "Tuesday meal", etc. But I knew I'd be making supper tonight, so I searched through ideas that I had pinned from Pinterest in my "food" file and found something that looked good and was different than what I have usually been making. I figured out what ingredients I already had, then made sure to pick up the rest when I went grocery shopping today, because it's Saturday, and that's grocery shopping day!<br /><br />This is teriyaki chicken and rice in the making. It was pretty easy to make and ended up being a big casserole, perfect for leftovers later in the week.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mivlEEBn8pk/Wn-OKlK4sOI/AAAAAAAADug/_A_j45ruPmknEWJwy_jJBC9IhlSrkyIwgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mivlEEBn8pk/Wn-OKlK4sOI/AAAAAAAADug/_A_j45ruPmknEWJwy_jJBC9IhlSrkyIwgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2282.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />You make a teriyaki sauce with soy sauce, brown sugar, honey, ginger, minced garlic and a bit of olive oil, thickened with cornstarch. Then you cook four boneless, skinless chicken breasts in some of the sauce. Once the chicken is cooked, you shred it (I use two forks to do this) and add cooked rice, cooked Asian vegetables (the packaged, frozen kind), pineapple tidbits and more of the sauce. Then this mixture gets put back in the oven for another 20 minutes or so.<br /><br />Once it comes out, you drizzle the remainder of the sauce on top. It was excellent!! If I make it again, I will add more than the cup of pineapple recommended. I think the pineapple helps to balance out the saltiness of the sauce.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idjTnXrTY7A/Wn-PNQl6KNI/AAAAAAAADuo/cQxcL1DfEDMBROFp6HUl_O9eXUE6vVrLQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-idjTnXrTY7A/Wn-PNQl6KNI/AAAAAAAADuo/cQxcL1DfEDMBROFp6HUl_O9eXUE6vVrLQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2283.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />That's the finished product with a couple of helpings already gone. My son will enjoy this when he gets home from work because he loves anything involving soy sauce.<br /><br />My daughter, meanwhile, texted and sent a picture of a place that she and her boyfriend ate at tonight. It was an all you can eat Indian buffet. It looked wonderful. We have no Indian food restaurants around here at all, and it's a pity!<br /><br />What about you, do you get bored with the same old reliable meals you tend to make over and over?coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-20228617669400372942018-02-02T16:41:00.000-05:002018-02-02T16:41:19.036-05:00February 2nd<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlj3_LVrdTU/WnTZPdh7IxI/AAAAAAAADrk/OsVRoTElCKU3yyL9Nbice_s-AfLHrZeHACLcBGAs/s1600/0299rodent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="325" height="442" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlj3_LVrdTU/WnTZPdh7IxI/AAAAAAAADrk/OsVRoTElCKU3yyL9Nbice_s-AfLHrZeHACLcBGAs/s640/0299rodent.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.canadiancontent.ca/images/0299rodent.jpg">source</a><br /><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, duh!!!!</span></b><br /><b>Six more weeks of winter as predicted by our resident albino rodent. When has it <i>not </i>been six more weeks of winter?</b><br /><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-24067305045238490732018-01-31T21:03:00.002-05:002018-01-31T21:03:16.984-05:00Asking for an Opinion I was wondering if any of you use Spotify. It's an app that lets you download music. I use the free basic level of Spotify, but because it's free, I only get some of the features. For example, I am only allowed to listen to playlists that I have made on "shuffle", I don't get to choose what I listen to first, and next, and so on. If a song comes on that I don't want at that time, I can skip it, but I'm only allowed to skip ahead about four times, then a message comes up asking if I want to buy the Premium level. Also, I always have to be online to listen to the music.<br /><br />So... Premium costs a bit of money and apparently you can listen to what you want in the order you want and there are no advertisements that come on and interrupt the music.<br /><br />I NEVER EVER pay for apps. If it isn't free, I don't want it. Mind you, I'm not a big techy person, so I likely don't even know what I'm missing.<br /><br />I'm asking because I need something I can listen to in different settings, not just in my own home. I've started (to prove it to myself that I can) to run on the treadmill. I began with walking and running, alternating by looking at the minutes that go by and using those to gauge when I walk and when I run. I hated it until I started to listen to music when I ran/walked and then it was so much "more fun" (it's not really fun at all, but it's tolerable with music) Now I make little bargains with myself that I'll run for three songs, or whatever. When I listen to music from my phone on Spotify, I am stuck listening to whatever song comes up, and it's pretty limiting.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q93tYX9ya7E/WnJ0h7TP0lI/AAAAAAAADqU/jE0qybpHcDY0DSP14vTXx-fgfboeNIBCQCLcBGAs/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q93tYX9ya7E/WnJ0h7TP0lI/AAAAAAAADqU/jE0qybpHcDY0DSP14vTXx-fgfboeNIBCQCLcBGAs/s400/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Td-CjCWH8Po/maxresdefault.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />So... any opinions about Spotify premium? Do you have it? Is it worth it? Do you have the family plan? Thanks all.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-67687096441710059162018-01-28T19:42:00.000-05:002018-01-28T19:42:24.139-05:00So We Thought a Cat Door Would Be a Good Idea...We had become slaves in our own home. There are three possible doors out of which our "beloved" cats depart to go outside. They are very much indoor / outdoor beasts, even on the coldest winter day. Sampson, the eldest, has always let us know that he wants out by lifting and dropping the edge of the doormat with his claws. Sometimes he does the mat trick in front of the closest door to get our attention (i.e. to get us up off the couch) and then quickly moves toward the actual door from which he wishes to go out. He's actually pretty smart. Scooter, much younger and somewhat less intelligent, or so we thought, has learned the door mat flicking technique. We do a lot of letting out.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFNyQ9aujjk/Wm5nvtQszEI/AAAAAAAADoc/HJZ2B_3RxpooXSLiZRHxVcXfrvsDg-BVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2259.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SFNyQ9aujjk/Wm5nvtQszEI/AAAAAAAADoc/HJZ2B_3RxpooXSLiZRHxVcXfrvsDg-BVgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2259.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sampson, the more refined, enjoying sleeping on unfilled Christmas stockings</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kF22PwgfJHE/Wm5oAjd7MnI/AAAAAAAADog/jMBAjIPYX_E92V76C4D5l2kFM2r_iqQfwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kF22PwgfJHE/Wm5oAjd7MnI/AAAAAAAADog/jMBAjIPYX_E92V76C4D5l2kFM2r_iqQfwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2251.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scooter, the cat with no tail, who is more laid back, not quite fitting on a chair</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />In order to ask to be let back in, our cats jump up on an outdoor window sill, close to one of the exterior doors, and "ping" (i.e. pull with claws) the screen on the window. In the winter time, there are much shorter durations between letting out and letting back in because, well, it's cold. But they really do want to go out, but then they really do want to come back in, and on and on it goes.<br /><br />Not only were we tired of the constant doorman routine, but we were also anticipating an upcoming trip we were going on. We do not have family living any where close to us, so when we go away, we leave the looking after of cats to our reliable teenage son. This time around, however, we were going to go on vacation and take both of our children with us, so no teenage son in residence to let cats in and out. We have, in the past, asked our neighbour across the road to look in on our animals for us. He kindly agrees, but he works full time and he is not a "pet person". He agrees because it is the neighbourly thing to do. Also, it would be ridiculous to expect him to come back and forth to our house in the cold and snow to constantly let our cats in and out. That's asking too much of anyone! We had been contemplating a cat door for a while, so we decided now was the good time, well ahead of the trip so that our cats would learn the whole cat door process before we left.<br /><br />Husband, who has no fear of tackling any home project, quite adeptly cut through a wall and installed the cat door in our mudroom, a perfect place because the access is well back in our car port where snow will not gather (defeats the purpose if you are shovelling snow away from the cat door) and the mudroom can be a self-contained large area where the cats can have their food, enough space to get away from each other (Sampson barely tolerates Scooter), and a litter box if necessary. As well, doors can be closed from the mudroom to the rest of the house so that the cats can go no further.<br /><br />It was a "simple" cat door with a frame around the outside and a sturdy plastic flap with a magnetic closure.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jD5ULZlWeSM/Wm5YaPyaBxI/AAAAAAAADoM/FmUOofBJ120e2dhIlb6rqRiTmV3eovlgwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jD5ULZlWeSM/Wm5YaPyaBxI/AAAAAAAADoM/FmUOofBJ120e2dhIlb6rqRiTmV3eovlgwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2280.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>We then began the process of teaching the cats how to use it. We moved their food and water to the mudroom, from the kitchen where it had been since we got Scooter. They had to know it was the new location so we were picking them up and carrying them out there quite a few times. As well, every time they wanted to go out and started lifting and dropping a mat in front of a door, we would pick them up, take them out to the mudroom and lift the flap of the cat door, gently urging them to go out that way. And yes, they continued to jump on the outdoor windowsills and wreak havoc with the screens. We would go outside (yes, it's winter) and literally walk around the house, cat in arms, to get to the car port and lift the flap to gently urge them to go in the cat door. This went on for many many days until Scooter (who knew??) figured it out on his own. We praised him every time he showed up in the house after using the cat door (do cats even care about praise?) and eventually Sampson also got the idea.<br /><br />You know there's going to be a glitch, don't you? So, here's the glitch. I don't know if there's some kind of a cat telegraph line, or that our cats are just really friendly, social beings, or the neighbourhood cats look at our cats and think, "Gee, you're looking well fed!" and our cats are communicating back, "There's lots of food, come on over!", but we had a total of THREE other cats easily and gleefully using our cat door. In fact, they didn't just use it, but they went from the mudroom into the rest of our house! We spent a lot of time chasing cats away from our home, from our porch, from our mudroom, from our den, from underneath our cars (not in a bad way)... One of these delightful stray (but well fed) cats was also an unneutered male who felt the need to establish his territory all over my front porch and back porch and car port... Blehhhh!!!<br /><br />Time marched on and it came time for us to leave for our vacation. We bought lots of cat food and large bottles of water which we kept in the mudroom. We propped the door from the mudroom to our den open and draped the couches and chair with sheets and blankets to protect them because I am a softie and thought our cats would like the comfort of lying on a couch for a week while we were gone. That was going to be their world, when they wanted to be inside: the mudroom and the den. We gave our key to our neighbour and asked him to just pop in every once in a while to check on the food and water levels, topping them up as necessary. We did tell him that there have been a couple of stray cats around and for him not to worry about it. The day before we left, I also watched a raccoon climb up the big blue spruce just off of our back porch. A raccoon which could likely have squeezed itself into our cat door along with the other animals. At that point, all we could do was put the luggage in the car and lock the door behind us.<br /><br />Fast forward to returning from the vacation, luggage partially unpacked in the front hall, needing another vacation after the vacation... , our neighbour returns our key. We find out that one time, when he came to check on things, there was a totally different cat in our den. He had startled the cat and it shot around the room, leaping up in the air and actually knocking a painting off the wall! There had been copious amounts of cat hair all over the sheets and blankets draped on the furniture, and , I swear, there was a portion of cat poop on the baseboard in our den. Nowhere else, just clinging vertically to the baseboard!! How does that even happen?<br /><br />Lord knows what else happened while we were away, what kinds of cat parties occurred, how many other species were in our home, but after we had been home for about a day, Scooter, who NEVER EVER EVER sits on anyone, jumped up on the couch on which I was relaxing with my feet up, and crawled on my lap and purred, for quite a while. Remorse? Forgiveness? Guilt?<br /><br />Needless to say we had to close the cat door (there is a sliding closure that comes with it, we didn't actually diagonally nail a couple of boards over it) to prevent the onslaught of stray cats. We also spent a lot of time discouraging cats from showing up close to our home. In fact, I really don't even think they were strays. They looked cared for, fed, and they obviously knew how to use a cat door. I just wanted them to not come to MY home. If they go to someone else's home, that's fine with me.<br /><br />Of course, closing up the cat door then led to more confusion and perhaps you could call it "untraining". Now our cats had to let us know they wanted out and in (and out, and in, and out...) the old fashioned way. Big sigh combined with an eye roll.<br /><br />Okay, now it's your turn, do you have a pet door, and if you do, what, besides your pet, has come through it? coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-60836142518710372652017-12-03T23:16:00.001-05:002017-12-04T06:57:52.789-05:00Go For a WalkFor the past two weekends, my husband and I have decided to spend some time getting out in nature and moving purposefully, for the benefit of both of us. As mother nature is gracing us with tremendously mild weather for the beginning of December, it is still lovely to be out walking on trails.<br /><br />Two weekends ago, we walked along a lovely set of trails with just regular footwear and our winter coats and gloves. It was windy, but we were quite protected in the woods.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8oPXS6hK_8/WiTGTIc14GI/AAAAAAAAC50/KCFmqHme9fASpTc0DC7QpUXDwDfTA67ygCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8oPXS6hK_8/WiTGTIc14GI/AAAAAAAAC50/KCFmqHme9fASpTc0DC7QpUXDwDfTA67ygCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2167.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCn0fxdDn84/WiTGd9Do1iI/AAAAAAAAC54/Axmo_LTdavg3dccVKv6odAZRd46zYZDbgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FCn0fxdDn84/WiTGd9Do1iI/AAAAAAAAC54/Axmo_LTdavg3dccVKv6odAZRd46zYZDbgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2169.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The water is not yet frozen and there is no snow covering the leafy floor.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJuvSZ4pTNA/WiTGvrtaLtI/AAAAAAAAC58/zc-LJj1zOyQRorDVUHtq9eyHetC3tF_TQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJuvSZ4pTNA/WiTGvrtaLtI/AAAAAAAAC58/zc-LJj1zOyQRorDVUHtq9eyHetC3tF_TQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2170.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Bracket fungus always makes me think of my sister. Yes, this is an odd statement. My sister was always far more crafty and artistic than I. When we were young, she had painted a rather large bracket fungus (taken off the tree) by coating each layer with a different colour. That fungus sat in our shared bedroom for years.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olg6-QDOBv8/WiTHLqOy0RI/AAAAAAAAC6E/CJPSOYbsz4sNvu-GvEP9icrffnTeXWTlQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olg6-QDOBv8/WiTHLqOy0RI/AAAAAAAAC6E/CJPSOYbsz4sNvu-GvEP9icrffnTeXWTlQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2172.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Who do you suppose lives here?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gym1TCgmQCM/WiTHX_94iMI/AAAAAAAAC6I/mSNdnDCo99I4E0GdZcVhMOQY_z5ZS91tQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Gym1TCgmQCM/WiTHX_94iMI/AAAAAAAAC6I/mSNdnDCo99I4E0GdZcVhMOQY_z5ZS91tQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2174.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love the sound of water running in little streams.<br /><br />A couple of days later, it was time to make some comfort food. On the menu that night was leek and potato soup. Here are the ingredients ready to be cooked to a soft consistency and then blended with my hand blender. I loved my previous hand blender so much and used it until it died a noble death. My new one is great, too.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GpTovtaiuOs/WiTIOsMUSqI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/IjjkIaDctwkhtAqKHc1qTaJ52kI4mAJNACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GpTovtaiuOs/WiTIOsMUSqI/AAAAAAAAC6Q/IjjkIaDctwkhtAqKHc1qTaJ52kI4mAJNACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2212.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It made tons and I froze half of it. My husband and I had leftovers today for lunch.<br /><br />Today's hike was even lovelier than the previous weekend. It was much more hilly and part of the route was called "Hardwood Highlands". The weather was wonderful. It is astounding to be snowless and seeing still-green lawns on December 3rd and I am very grateful. The walk helped us both physically and mentally. It is so nice to have this time together now that our kids are older and very independent. It's a great time to talk and solve life's problems.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PW_SD9hNRsg/WiTJRnDq40I/AAAAAAAAC6g/Htk_xKJb6OIQ2Rm3gr_PB2HvM2sqalEqQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PW_SD9hNRsg/WiTJRnDq40I/AAAAAAAAC6g/Htk_xKJb6OIQ2Rm3gr_PB2HvM2sqalEqQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2218.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is how the trail started, on this beautiful path. We watched red squirrels chase each other through the trees. Red squirrels have very different temperaments than other types of squirrels. They are very cheeky and feisty.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K61PYZXqD7Y/WiTJ0ORXqNI/AAAAAAAAC6o/7qgcECXCxsUVytFyvMNZTso99-x_Q7VUgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-K61PYZXqD7Y/WiTJ0ORXqNI/AAAAAAAAC6o/7qgcECXCxsUVytFyvMNZTso99-x_Q7VUgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2219.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />This stump was covered in fungus (?) lichen (?).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYG2VGjq-yc/WiTKGpet7fI/AAAAAAAAC6s/H1z0cp6rzHMnDvupVEMoAV2lPJuJddprACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2227%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gYG2VGjq-yc/WiTKGpet7fI/AAAAAAAAC6s/H1z0cp6rzHMnDvupVEMoAV2lPJuJddprACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2227%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Although most of the trail led us through a hardwood forest, there was an area at the end where beautiful, old cedar trees grew and the ground was spongy with their needles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqG2JkYGXLY/WiTKfPMTBPI/AAAAAAAAC60/lBlJoFpNBBwWkpC7AkOW5t3zdBRlIcQOACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cqG2JkYGXLY/WiTKfPMTBPI/AAAAAAAAC60/lBlJoFpNBBwWkpC7AkOW5t3zdBRlIcQOACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2230.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love the texture of old cedar bark.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yx09GW1862g/WiTKryFEU4I/AAAAAAAAC68/nwy4snfOduIXZ3DvCKnDWuERPE4KZQ5RACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yx09GW1862g/WiTKryFEU4I/AAAAAAAAC68/nwy4snfOduIXZ3DvCKnDWuERPE4KZQ5RACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2229.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Yours truly in my very old, but well loved L. L. Bean coat and my fetching new hat ala Giant Tiger (a Canadian store). (sounds Canadian doesn't it??)<br /><br />The trails we walked were part of a conservation area that also has beautiful ponds and rivers with ducks and geese and swans. There are also enclosures featuring interesting birds like various types of pheasants.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0RzkSThecs/WiTLv7f7ujI/AAAAAAAAC7E/RCdIIgT4h0YrrUdXACe9bC1lgdPPGd1WwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0RzkSThecs/WiTLv7f7ujI/AAAAAAAAC7E/RCdIIgT4h0YrrUdXACe9bC1lgdPPGd1WwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2233.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I thought this one looked like Phyllis Diller.<br /><br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-21773894768242556742017-11-26T20:33:00.001-05:002017-11-26T20:33:20.615-05:00cat pics, sunset, beef for JoanneQuite a gripping title wasn't it? I will first begin with the beef. I was reading Joanne's post over at&nbsp; <a href="http://cuponthebus.blogspot.ca/2017/11/a-garden-story.html">Cup on the Bus</a> where she was describing how her granddaughter, a girl much more mature than I ever was at her age, might think about making a pot roast. Her granddaughter wondered if she could make it in a slow cooker. A bunch of comments ensued. The whole thing made me think of making roast beef, so that is what I did tonight. But, instead I used my "magical cooking pot", so called because everything turns out perfect in it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ9caJcrDuA/Whtm1lZWq4I/AAAAAAAAC38/lhezAn4Y32waQLVqmcBL6gDzi4dB_UQ8QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QJ9caJcrDuA/Whtm1lZWq4I/AAAAAAAAC38/lhezAn4Y32waQLVqmcBL6gDzi4dB_UQ8QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2209.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It's never the same and I never measure, but tonight's roast was seared on all sides first, then I put it in a few tablespoons of tomato sauce (stole that idea from one of the comments on Joanne's blog), a good shaking of Worscestershire sauce, a shot of red wine (nothing says classy like wine in a box!) and a few shakes of "The Keg" steak seasoning. Then I cooked it slow and low in the oven (325 degrees until son came home from work at about 7:15 p.m.) I didn't keep track of time, but did check every once in a while to make sure the liquid was still sufficient.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtczilnLByE/Whtn29UzxtI/AAAAAAAAC4E/Sw0_8ymRUK8Kp8uxn1YBKN_mvrw1nZkZQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2210%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UtczilnLByE/Whtn29UzxtI/AAAAAAAAC4E/Sw0_8ymRUK8Kp8uxn1YBKN_mvrw1nZkZQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2210%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />My magical cooking pot (Dutch Oven) is a Kitchen Aid brand, but I know there are others out there. Mine was a fabulous price, on sale at Canadian Tire.<br /><br />It turned out moist and wonderful, by the way. Mashed potatoes, carrots, corn, gravy, little frozen President's Choice Yorkshire Puddings, and a few Brussel sprouts for me. Sunday night supper.<br /><br />A couple of nights ago, the sunset looked like fire on the horizon.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_y8sG0Lawc/Whtojdyj_FI/AAAAAAAAC4M/ELluhKwstGUSQmfc9p4MgMnMStu43NqVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A_y8sG0Lawc/Whtojdyj_FI/AAAAAAAAC4M/ELluhKwstGUSQmfc9p4MgMnMStu43NqVgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The picture doesn't do it justice. You can see some of the Christmas lights displays in the park across the road.<br /><br />And now for some pet pics.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTujevUOV_o/Whto97lTJnI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/f3L6Q1NGjdceu2fHfqIGt_BGhPS3Eb2wgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FTujevUOV_o/Whto97lTJnI/AAAAAAAAC4Q/f3L6Q1NGjdceu2fHfqIGt_BGhPS3Eb2wgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>-Scooter rolling on the lawn (he's a bit of a idiot)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWdnubREvc0/Whtp-CjOgnI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/kdjHJSHUjx8ZBK02oQXNRN-HepQDR4LagCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eWdnubREvc0/Whtp-CjOgnI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/kdjHJSHUjx8ZBK02oQXNRN-HepQDR4LagCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2159.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>-Samson being disturbed mid-grooming<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKmPAbMklvY/WhtqbWPJBNI/AAAAAAAAC4c/-LMo28FIzZQ1lfumDBRqAUPCCzr8f3GJACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FKmPAbMklvY/WhtqbWPJBNI/AAAAAAAAC4c/-LMo28FIzZQ1lfumDBRqAUPCCzr8f3GJACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_2156.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div>-Scooter's first chance to lick out the tuna can</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And that's it. That's my Sunday night.&nbsp;</div><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-76637825877047473302017-11-24T21:00:00.003-05:002017-11-24T21:00:58.051-05:00Accidental Holiday CelebrationTonight it was just the two of us as our son is away at a tournament (and daughter at university), so being as it was Friday night, I suggested we go out for supper. I didn't much feel like making anything, and I didn't want anything fancy, just good food.<br /><br />We decided to go to one of our usual "hole in the wall" favourite restaurants in a nearby small town. As we drove up, we noticed a lot more cars on the main street than usual. The Christmas lights along the street were already up and glowing, so we thought perhaps it was a lighting ceremony this evening.<br /><br />We went in to find a spot to eat (it is not a huge restaurant, so if you don't make a reservation, you might be taking your chances). Luckily there was still a spot that wasn't reserved. We ordered a draft beer each and thought about what we would like. The roast beef and Yorkshire pudding was one of the specials, so husband ordered that. I second-guessed myself and ending up ordering the barbecue Cornish hen, and shouldn't have. It was ok, but not really what I was hankering for.<br /><br />As we sat with our food, we heard other people talking and realized that this evening was going to be the annual Santa Claus parade. We were quite close to the window, so we could see the parade from our table. We finished and paid for our meal before the parade was over, so I took some pictures to give you an idea of what a typical small town / rural Santa Claus parade is like.<br /><br />The quintessential shiny red fire truck had already gone through, so no picture of that. I also didn't get the local high school float of a handful of the kids in the band playing a Christmas carol or two. Thankfully, today was one of the mildest days (and evenings) we've had, so the onlookers, as well as the parade participants, weren't freezing. There have been many Santa Claus parades that required winter coats, snow pants, hats, mittens, boots, scarves, and a lot of stamping of feet or sitting in cars with the engine running and the heat on!<br /><br />Here's a sampling from the end of the parade:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vIlzeu7G0U/WhjHX5Hr9_I/AAAAAAAAC2o/1MkKJpNG4m46DeK0YHBl1mDIIJSuYET3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4vIlzeu7G0U/WhjHX5Hr9_I/AAAAAAAAC2o/1MkKJpNG4m46DeK0YHBl1mDIIJSuYET3wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2184.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>A flat bed trailer with a host of little kids dressed up (as toys??) and lights strung along the side.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRtgsA6FuQs/WhjHyTJIcyI/AAAAAAAAC2s/nl0K7eWrYw4JcFPKEjDbjJW4p8UG4yi2ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRtgsA6FuQs/WhjHyTJIcyI/AAAAAAAAC2s/nl0K7eWrYw4JcFPKEjDbjJW4p8UG4yi2ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2188.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />There are always animals - this one being a donkey wearing, if I'm not mistaken, a tree skirt as a cape.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YZzclQJVWM/WhjID3jFaLI/AAAAAAAAC20/lG72YPeE-Wwd5PQ83yJOJq9wk_cWZVGjgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2189.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5YZzclQJVWM/WhjID3jFaLI/AAAAAAAAC20/lG72YPeE-Wwd5PQ83yJOJq9wk_cWZVGjgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2189.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />It wouldn't be Christmas without a goat wearing a shirt. I apologize for the blurry quality of some of these photos. Trust me, it's a goat.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_aYH3SHluQQ/WhjIWf7DMvI/AAAAAAAAC24/kHwx6n0aodQFoJ-Sz2bis4cw_VXDugtQACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_aYH3SHluQQ/WhjIWf7DMvI/AAAAAAAAC24/kHwx6n0aodQFoJ-Sz2bis4cw_VXDugtQACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2190.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Pretty self-explanatory. This is the same vet service that took care of Scooter when he had to have his tail amputated, and Samson when he accidentally got a stick caught in his throat. I think we helped pay for part of this float.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMU0YD20Muo/WhjIupt-J0I/AAAAAAAAC3A/ilNd2PqvrHAuhlWsuqUls57r137kxmNuQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TMU0YD20Muo/WhjIupt-J0I/AAAAAAAAC3A/ilNd2PqvrHAuhlWsuqUls57r137kxmNuQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2192.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here is a giant grocery cart (those are full sized humans inside) pulling a regular sized grocery cart. This particular small town lost its one and only grocery store several years ago when it closed up. Thankfully, a few years later, it reopened under a new company. A town without a grocery store just can't survive, especially for those who do not drive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnbpN7oxs5s/WhjJBy729xI/AAAAAAAAC3E/wYz1_xqPRdQ92hIU-th0xk7ZNm6mAfstQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xnbpN7oxs5s/WhjJBy729xI/AAAAAAAAC3E/wYz1_xqPRdQ92hIU-th0xk7ZNm6mAfstQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2196.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The theme for the parade this year must have been gingerbread because there were a lot of gingerbread people and gingerbread houses.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3U2vnJNJxA/WhjJU0ccomI/AAAAAAAAC3M/agmoORbbW_08ACofKgia1sFCJ6NQAl56gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y3U2vnJNJxA/WhjJU0ccomI/AAAAAAAAC3M/agmoORbbW_08ACofKgia1sFCJ6NQAl56gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2198.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I love the teams of heavy horses and the sound they make coming up the street.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P206PSYHv4I/WhjJjwd5o1I/AAAAAAAAC3Q/k9Ttg35eQxUqy8UeEif3pq0RRZpksh17gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P206PSYHv4I/WhjJjwd5o1I/AAAAAAAAC3Q/k9Ttg35eQxUqy8UeEif3pq0RRZpksh17gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Santa is always at the end of the parade. Although he is very blurry here, he was an excellent Santa with resounding "Ho, ho, ho's". You can see the Rotary Club symbols on his float.<br /><br />When Santa had passed, husband and I walked to where we had parked the car and knew it would be a wait until we could pull out and proceed home (we were also on the main street). Here are some images of parade participants on their way home as well that I caught as we were waiting in our vehicle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wm4CVN8YFU/WhjKOcmGTEI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/EefWnSjikUAlJRKFvB7eNvRy4G6jhgABQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Wm4CVN8YFU/WhjKOcmGTEI/AAAAAAAAC3Y/EefWnSjikUAlJRKFvB7eNvRy4G6jhgABQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>-a pretty horse and rider complete with Christmas lights<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtN94sVW9KI/WhjKcOjJizI/AAAAAAAAC3c/yEI4wVLlKhc5wfL1MDr8kvsBTe9RbqmewCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gtN94sVW9KI/WhjKcOjJizI/AAAAAAAAC3c/yEI4wVLlKhc5wfL1MDr8kvsBTe9RbqmewCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2206.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;- and another<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VxZAogyGkU/WhjKnkLr8TI/AAAAAAAAC3g/NDIbncik7vsl0ckv1dKieKr0501KRsToQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VxZAogyGkU/WhjKnkLr8TI/AAAAAAAAC3g/NDIbncik7vsl0ckv1dKieKr0501KRsToQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2203.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />-and just to one-up the goat, here is a Christmas sheep. Its owners shouted Merry Christmas to us as we put the window down to take the picture.<br /><br />Also in this community is a little store which always has a charming window display with moving figures. Last year's was featured in <a href="http://coffeeontheporchwithme.blogspot.ca/2016/12/tgif.html">this post</a>, but I think this year's is much more quaint. The mice moved as they decorated their little home.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxB4zYeoV0Q/WhjLNcDgWOI/AAAAAAAAC3o/TbxCBJZyCwUFHwlok_BnWXtOnC3kje37QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxB4zYeoV0Q/WhjLNcDgWOI/AAAAAAAAC3o/TbxCBJZyCwUFHwlok_BnWXtOnC3kje37QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2183.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Now we are home and the wind is just howling outside, although no snow is in the air. I have taken the advice of some of you wonderful readers and have begun to watch <u>River</u> on Netflix. I love it already! I even talked husband into watching with me and he concurs.<br /><br />I hope you liked the glimpse of small town Ontario's early Christmas celebration. It is no "Macy's Day Parade", but it's predictable and hokey, and everybody waves and smiles. I know that many of you are celebrating your American Thanksgiving this weekend. I hope it has been lovely so far!coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-91261917633395679642017-11-18T08:57:00.002-05:002017-11-18T11:06:11.706-05:00Think I could Make a Million?If you read my blog, you know I'm not a "basher" of any sort, so this is not where I am going with this. But if you are alive and living with , or have lived with, a member of the male species you are already well aware that there is a clear and distinct difference with how men and women think, how they take on tasks, how they prioritize.<br /><br />I always used to pride myself on being someone who could find things. Seriously, if someone dropped an item and couldn't find it, I was in there, hands and knees, finding it. (These days, I would need to grab my reading glasses for close inspection). If a form, or receipt, or bit of paperwork went missing, I was the locator, eventually holding up the offending article. A familiar call of , "Mom! I can't find my..." was taken care of by me.<br /><br />Because of this super power of mine, I don't find the regular day to day locating of things like my keys before I leave the house, the newspaper on the porch, the half of a mouse on the back porch mat, a laundry basket in which to put dry clothes a difficult task. In fact, I can find all the necessary food to create supper, or a snack, or any meal. We have two refrigerators. The main one in the kitchen holds 90% of our food and the one out in the mudroom tends to be for extra bags of milk, beer, an extra container of strawberries because there was a sale on if you buy two, the bag of apples because it takes up too much space in the other fridge... The food that does not need refrigeration has a few other locations, but none of them are top secret or require a map to get to.<br /><br />So why is it that my husband cannot find things in the fridge? One day when I was cutting up fresh veggies for lunches, I made some extra containers and left one in the fridge for my husband. I asked him later if he liked his veggies and he said he couldn't find them. Along with the obligatory eye roll, I joked if it was because I hadn't left them at eye-level in front of everything else in the fridge. And that's when it occurred to me how I am going to make my million dollars!<br /><br />I present to you a rough mock up of... <b><i>The Man Fridge</i></b>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lIn9I-BNew/WhA30ba9IXI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/kLAoFUkPmcY1fyCeRNv-auGnao2xh9sQQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8lIn9I-BNew/WhA30ba9IXI/AAAAAAAAC2Q/kLAoFUkPmcY1fyCeRNv-auGnao2xh9sQQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2160.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><b></b><i><br /></i></div><div>The Man Fridge is wider than most regular refrigerators. The first key thing to note about The Man Fridge is that it is to be mounted on the wall <b><u>at eye level</u></b>. This must be determined first upon receiving the appliance by measuring the dominant male in the household and then adhered to strictly during installation.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The Man Fridge consists of four clear glass doors so that the contents of the fridge can be seen from the outside. The glass doors are opened by using a remote!!! A lifetime supply of batteries is also worked into the purchase price.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, here's the second key feature to The Man Fridge. It is only the depth of one large Costco size bottle (of olives that nobody wants, or Stubb's Barbecue sauce, purchased only because it is fun to say in a low-voiced, exaggerated way). It is crucial that The Man Fridge be a shallow depth because there can never be items placed behind any other item. They will <i>never </i>be found if placed behind other items.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The third key feature of The Man Fridge is that it is self-cleaning. I haven't quite worked out the technical details on that yet, but leave it with me.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>As well, The Man Fridge has an internal sensor that lets the user know if there is a very small (i.e. three teaspoons) amount of milk left in the bag, or if it is the last piece of pizza, pie, cake, what have you, so that the dominant male can leave the milk bag exactly as is, or can consume the last piece of something without asking if anyone else wanted it.</div><div><b></b><u></u><b></b><u><br /></u></div><div>The Man Fridge comes in a few different styles: industrial, retro, camo, pub, or embossed with favourite team or automotive logo. It always gets delivered to your home with no assembly required at a convenient time. (I am later editing this to add that my own dominant male thinks this is a fabulous idea and contributed the clear glass door feature to the overall design. )</div><div><br /></div><div>And there you have it: my millions await.<br /><br /><br /><b><u>Additional New Info:</u></b>&nbsp; I just read this post, including the comments, to my husband as he is making a mess on my glass top stove cooking his eggs (see, he is not useless in the kitchen). He wanted me to add another feature that ties in with the self-cleaning feature. He said there could be, along with purchase, a pre-scheduled person to come to your house every six weeks who will clean the fridge. At which point I just said to him that if I add that to the post, every woman who reads it will roll her eyes and say, "My god, he actually thinks that the fridge only gets cleaned <i>every six weeks</i>?!?!"<br />I rest my case.&nbsp;</div><b></b><u></u><b></b><u></u><i></i><i></i><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-12624562613245721982017-11-11T17:11:00.000-05:002017-11-11T17:11:38.300-05:00November 11Today is Remembrance Day in Canada. We have been pretty lucky to have mild weather for the past two years on this day, but this year it is more typical. I always feel for the very elderly veterans that I see on tv attending special ceremonies huddled under wool blankets in wheelchairs, stoically putting up with cold, wet, windy weather. I suppose they've put up with much worse.<br /><br />Here is what it looked like this morning:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GyMAHAmuBo/Wgdyjdf8LjI/AAAAAAAAC10/96vvwOLw76IF8N2tmRdOObNM5BHZjJoqQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_GyMAHAmuBo/Wgdyjdf8LjI/AAAAAAAAC10/96vvwOLw76IF8N2tmRdOObNM5BHZjJoqQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2133.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xLyFFOOG3w/WgdytNoPB3I/AAAAAAAAC14/WaElgP5NTFw4yMUU0kJnXyTRl6A_sX2UgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2xLyFFOOG3w/WgdytNoPB3I/AAAAAAAAC14/WaElgP5NTFw4yMUU0kJnXyTRl6A_sX2UgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2135.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Quintessentially Canadian shots of the pumpkins / jack o'lanterns and mums still on the porch for the first snowfall. As well, the outdoor furniture like this little wooden bistro set, still not put away in the shed for the season. As you can tell from the pawprints, our two cats are very much outdoor creatures who don't seem bothered by a bit of snow.<br /><br />This snow won't last. The temperatures will be above freezing later this week, but it is a good kick in the behind to clean up the last few things outside that should have been dealt with already.<br /><br />After a few hours out in the cold, Sammy has opted for something a bit more cozy.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CK_Z2yuNQ3o/Wgdzgwk5nHI/AAAAAAAAC2A/aQRPZMiGLmMGRyxUElngk7mXU-FEqn05gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CK_Z2yuNQ3o/Wgdzgwk5nHI/AAAAAAAAC2A/aQRPZMiGLmMGRyxUElngk7mXU-FEqn05gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2141.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />See how we've chose décor to match him?<br /><br />I went into town for the usual weekend shopping and wanted to take out some books at the library only to find that the library was closed for Remembrance Day. I guess I should have known that. Oh well, the books will still be there this week. I've taken to spending more time reading blogs and other computer activities in my downtime that I realized I haven't been lost in a good book for way too long. I need to find a few books to settle in with. I love mysteries, especially those set in England. I'm not much of a historical setting person (for mysteries anyway). I have several favourite authors, but you know how it is, you finish reading all of their books and they haven't quite finished their next one, so you don't know who to read now. Any suggestions would be appreciated!<br /><br />As soon as I hit "publish" on this post, I'll be preparing a meatloaf. It's comfort food tonight, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, maybe carrots, a slice of whole grain bread, a glass of red. Perfect.<br /><br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-6859900069768719452017-11-06T00:06:00.002-05:002017-11-06T00:06:40.324-05:00Netflix and British SeriesToday was a day to just sit and do "nothing". I had a marathon session of getting work commitments done yesterday. I've been nursing a cold. To top it off, the weather was miserable. There was actually a tiny bout of lightning and thunder this afternoon. So, I got into something stretchy and decided to get into a new British series on Netflix.<br /><br />I've thoroughly enjoyed other series: Midsomer Murders, Broadchurch, The Killing (this isn't a British one), Hinterland, Scott and Bailey, Shetland... I have loved all of these but probably The Killing and Broadchurch have been my favourites so far. One thing I love about series coming out of the U.K. is that the characters look like real people. Their faces show wrinkles and flaws, they have normal looking bodies, and their hair isn't perfect. None of their female leads are chasing the bad guy in four inch heels. I like how scenes are shot and how the actors act, but don't over-act.<br /><br />I decided to start watching Wallander with Kenneth Branagh. I watched a few episodes and love it. I'll see it through to the end. Apart from putting through a load of laundry and hanging sweaters to dry, and making beef stir fry for supper, I did little else. It feels very decadent for me to not fill my time doing whatever needs doing, but I'm glad I did. I haven't had a day to just "do nothing" for a while now.<br /><br />The clocks have all been set to the new time, as we "turned our clocks back" one hour this weekend. It is time to turn in, back to work tomorrow.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-7153626123384822572017-10-31T20:24:00.000-04:002017-10-31T20:24:22.851-04:00Just a giant bananaYou asked...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOwrn0EoBYg/WfkTiwkGIhI/AAAAAAAAC04/Nh9IVyQt02gaS7X8_I3J6qmsB3YX7EygwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LOwrn0EoBYg/WfkTiwkGIhI/AAAAAAAAC04/Nh9IVyQt02gaS7X8_I3J6qmsB3YX7EygwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2126.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBocDPxaloI/WfkT0nD4U5I/AAAAAAAAC08/HM4vkE7VH9kp8Auq3Q5tQT-87o4U7_6IwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YBocDPxaloI/WfkT0nD4U5I/AAAAAAAAC08/HM4vkE7VH9kp8Auq3Q5tQT-87o4U7_6IwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2129.JPG" width="300" /></a>It didn't fit too well in the car!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-28127791171863715222017-10-30T00:09:00.002-04:002017-10-30T00:09:18.847-04:00Sunday Night Catch UpI feel like it has been a whirlwind two or three weeks. So here's what's been occupying my time and energy lately.<br /><br />We were down one vehicle due to an unfortunate accident in a parking lot. (The "kids' car" got badly damaged while it was parked in a highschool parking lot - the insurance company declared it a write off, so it got taken away and we were paid what the car was "worth" which wasn't a whole lot). We decided to let the kids (and I say kids, but they are 17 and 21) use my vehicle which I've been driving forever and is still a reliable workhorse of a vehicle, and I would get something different and "new".<br /><br />New doesn't mean new. New means different. We like other people to experience depreciation of brand new vehicles. I also prefer someone else to put the first scratch in the car, so it doesn't have to be me. For three (?) weekends now, my husband and I have been driving around going to various car dealerships looking for the right car for me. I like SUVs. We have brutal winters here and I like to be up off the road with four wheel drive below me. I wanted a slightly smaller SUV than I've been driving and was partial to Kia Sportage, or Kia Sorento. We just couldn't find the right combination of all wheel drive, the correct colour, heated seats (a deal breaker for me!) and price.<br /><br />Again, I remind you, we do not live in a city where there are great numbers of car dealerships to search through. We drove a lot! In one way, it was kind of nice, just the husband and I. We'd eat out, chat a lot, look at cars, test drive some, it was kind of like dating, except more stressful because I really needed to get a new vehicle!! It has been exhausting for him, as he's been dealing with his own health problems, but that's a whole other story.<br /><br />Anyway, finally, on Saturday, we drove to yet another town (maybe an hour and a bit away) because I had found a couple of vehicles on the website of a Toyota dealership that looked promising. I am now the proud owner of a Toyota Rav 4 that I will be picking up this Thursday (more driving). I'm very happy. It is a "limited" which means all the bells and whistles (leather seats, yay!!) and it was still in our price range. We do not spend big money on our vehicles but we have yet to buy a "lemon".<br /><br />As well, I have&nbsp; been working Monday to Friday as always with extra work commitments. I've had a long overdue dentist appointment and now have lovely clean teeth with no cavities. I FINALLY cleaned up my little vegetable garden and packed away stakes and tomato cages and dug out the last of the potatoes and thrown bean plants into the compost. I cut back more perennials and cleaned out the last pots and window boxes of their faded summer flowers. One cat has been treated for worms and probably fleas and I have to remember to take care of the other cat. That's the dilemma with cats who go outdoors. They hunt and get parasites, you treat them for said parasites, then they go out and hunt some more. Yechk!!<br /><br />When I was cleaning out my garden, I discovered two lovely not-too-big zucchini, so I made a batch of my regular chocolate chip zucchini muffins for this week's lunches and snacks. I also made a ham for supper. We haven't had ham for quite some time and I'm planning on making split pea and ham soup with some of the leftovers. It's becoming home made soup time!<br /><br />We have been very fortunate and have not had hard frosts or snow yet. Hallowe'en is in two days and there have been Hallowe'ens of the past that have been cold, snowy, rainy, mild, windy, any combination of those... We don't get a ton of trick or treaters, but some years we get a fair amount, especially if the weather isn't horrible, so I purchased some treats to be ready.<br /><br />People at work dress up for Hallowe'en and I'm a bit of a straight laced party pooper, but this year I decided , why not? So I found a costume at Value Village which was not some kind of suggestive sexy vampire get up (why are they all like that???) and instead I'm going to be a giant banana (and no that wasn't meant to be suggestive in any way).<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago, we celebrated my mother-in-law's eightieth birthday. We took her out to dinner at a nice place in a nearby town and then brought her back home for cake. She is in a retirement home due to her dementia, but she's very healthy otherwise. Generally she is in good spirits, but maintains that people have been in her room and moved things around. This is a common theme. She wouldn't remember if she had put an item in a different spot, or even what she had in her room, so it might just be easier to believe that others are doing things. Being around someone with virtually no short term memory is a very good reminder to live your life NOW, not put things off, and not worry about the little things.<br /><br />I've been watching Outlander on Sundays (Diana Gabaldon's novel). I've read her whole series and enjoy the tv shows, but some are quite borderline pornographic in spots and I always have the remote in my hand ready to switch to something else if my son should walk into the room. Not that I think he doesn't already know the whys and whereabouts of human sexuality, but more that he should say something along the lines of, "Mom!! What are you watching?!?!"<br /><br />Well, there you have it. There's the Sunday night review. Have a great week, everyone.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-16415150886419910492017-10-15T00:00:00.001-04:002017-10-15T00:00:37.032-04:00Piano LessonsI was mindlessly clicking around in Pinterest and an image of a piano lesson book came up. It took me way back to when I was a girl, taking piano lessons. We always had a piano in the house. It was an old Heintzman upright that came from my father's family, I believe. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i53Tcnt9Azg/WeLVr6EW1sI/AAAAAAAAC0I/EG1oQTFsI4EtC_op-o2OulnM4lWEbfLbwCLcBGAs/s1600/heintzman-logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="228" data-original-width="360" height="402" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i53Tcnt9Azg/WeLVr6EW1sI/AAAAAAAAC0I/EG1oQTFsI4EtC_op-o2OulnM4lWEbfLbwCLcBGAs/s640/heintzman-logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pianotech.ca/images/heintzman-logo.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />This is not a picture of our actual piano, but in my mind it was something like this:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXhjy1ThXPA/WeLTAozGjcI/AAAAAAAACz0/cRsoWCFiCKYGa5jSh5V24F_I8PnLBPKfQCLcBGAs/s1600/50871121_614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="614" height="298" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FXhjy1ThXPA/WeLTAozGjcI/AAAAAAAACz0/cRsoWCFiCKYGa5jSh5V24F_I8PnLBPKfQCLcBGAs/s400/50871121_614.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/usedphotosna/50871121_614.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>My lessons were once a week at Mrs. Rowe's house. My mother would drive me there and sit in a chair flipping through magazines while I would sit on the piano bench with Mrs. Rowe and pick away at the keys. She always smelled of coffee and her hair was black and white and wiry. I would choose little coloured foil stars to lick and glue on the pages in the lesson book when I had learned a piece.<br /><br />I was not a very good piano student. I did not practise. Well, I did practise, usually the day before my lesson. I absolutely hated playing in front of other people. I would much rather play when nobody was around. When I <i>was</i> taking lessons (because yes, I quit, a disappointment to my musical father), I went through this series:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFSM0Cf2h84/WeLU8zaZ0BI/AAAAAAAAC0A/P_AX14yW3kMs2WdVyfaL8fxwXCFTj1u2ACLcBGAs/s1600/sharpsville_music-bk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1012" data-original-width="1600" height="404" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qFSM0Cf2h84/WeLU8zaZ0BI/AAAAAAAAC0A/P_AX14yW3kMs2WdVyfaL8fxwXCFTj1u2ACLcBGAs/s640/sharpsville_music-bk.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bissella9.files.wordpress.com/2016/11/sharpsville_music-bk.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>My piano teacher had many students and once a year, she would have a recital at the local United church. Oh dear lord, how I dreaded those recitals. Once, I got up to play my piece and partway through I forgot my notes and sat frozen on the bench until my piano teacher came and rescued me. Later, she regaled the crowd with a pounding rendition of "The Entertainer".<br /><br />What I much preferred over taking lessons and preparing for piano exams was buying sheet music, or begging my mother to buy me sheet music for different pop music. I would wait until nobody was in the house, or at least busy doing something else, and then I would work my way through it (always preferably in a key with few sharps or flats) until I could (haltingly!) play it. I was not a particularly talented player. It did not flow out of me, but I was passable.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0erWF4W6QrA/WeLXqnkhRWI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/XH7TcwQR58Ul2_9LCCdFemiliaGQpcqEACLcBGAs/s1600/s-l300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="218" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0erWF4W6QrA/WeLXqnkhRWI/AAAAAAAAC0Y/XH7TcwQR58Ul2_9LCCdFemiliaGQpcqEACLcBGAs/s400/s-l300.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/ODIAAOSw28pZxtdI/s-l225.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I loved this music! Do you remember the theme song from Hill Street Blues? I loved the tv show as well. I had a black and white cat named Cleo who would jump up on a nearby chair when I played the piano and meow incessantly. She was either complaining or accompanying. I'm not sure which.<br /><br />I always wished I could play more easily. I had a friend in highschool who had perfect pitch (you could play any note on the piano without her looking and she could tell you what it was). She was also an incredible sight reader. She could sit down in front of any piece of music and with very little problem, play it flawlessly. I was friends with a guy in highschool who played by ear. He could hear any piece of music and then play it himself - absolutely amazing! I wonder whatever happened to him? I always thought he would become a talented studio musician who could play back up to anyone, in any style.<br /><br />I had an aunt who lived in a different province (British Columbia), so I did not see her very often. When she did visit Ontario, there would inevitably be a gathering at a relative's house and Aunt Betty, drink on one end of the piano, cigarette propped up on an ashtray on the other, would pound away, playing chords while my father sang. I loved those times and admired what Aunt Betty could do, just play after somebody shouted out a request.<br /><br />Several years after we were married and our kids were very little, I thought I wanted to take up piano again. We bought an old upright - very plain - not particularly well tuned and it sat in our living room. I dug out old music and even bought a couple of new books. It was fun, but still not something that came naturally. We kept the piano for a few years, then gave it away for free to someone who was willing to transport it out of the house. (Those old pianos weighed a ton!)<br /><br />What about you? Did you take lessons? Did you have your own "Mrs. Rowe"? Do you still play?<br /><br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-59575578834007706672017-10-06T23:53:00.002-04:002017-10-06T23:53:12.366-04:00Kind of the Anti-MarthaMy husband and daughter came back to the house far too long after they left to quickly go into town and get the few things I needed for the Thanksgiving food tomorrow and Sunday. One of those things was a proper trifle bowl. None to be found. Not one in Walmart or Canadian Tire, and Home Hardware was closed. Once again, I remind you I live in "small town Ontario". No HomeSense, no Costco, no Pier One, no Stokes... the list goes on and on.<br /><br />Because they felt badly about not being able to locate a trifle bowl, they chose a little something for me. It was a nice little surprise. I LOVE red in the kitchen and I have always loved little jugs and creamers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WjWYnNopzvM/Wdg-4IaDOzI/AAAAAAAACx0/AP_ZWsJc_X8rjLtHdSASlwrh3WUvyrkWQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WjWYnNopzvM/Wdg-4IaDOzI/AAAAAAAACx0/AP_ZWsJc_X8rjLtHdSASlwrh3WUvyrkWQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2112.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Cute, huh? Now, for those of you that have been blogging for a while, you may know that this is a Ree Drummond piece (the Pioneer Woman). She started off with a blog. Yup, just a regular blog, but then it grew and turned into more of a cooking / food blog and then she took off like a house on fire and now she has a whole line of kitchen décor and items. They sell it here at Walmart. People, she started off with a blog.&nbsp; We all started off with a blog. Do I see myself being able to grow and expand like Ree Drummond? Will I be videoing myself stirring ingredients in a bowl and making suggestions about the perfect place setting?<br /><br />Well let's just say I'm more of a realist. I'm kind of like the anti-Martha Stewart. In fact, I was really ticked at Martha Stewart for a long time. She just rubbed me the wrong way with her perfection and chickens with blue eggs or green or whatever colour they were, her perfect décor and the way all of her food always worked out perfectly due to the magic of television and magazines. She set women up to be the perfect everything. Just got home from a long day at work and Susie is puking down the front of her shirt and the dog has fleas? No problem, just whip up the perfect meal complete with homemade dessert and relax in your New England paradise. She created an unachievable standard which made women feel inadequate by not being able to reach it.<br /><br />Here's the thing. My food is not very pretty most of the time. Some of my dishes have chips in them. It wasn't until two years ago that I finally got some decent cutlery instead of the stuff my mother collected in a promotion at the local grocery store. My pie crusts are sometimes purchased frozen in a flat box, and sometimes homemade. The homemade ones often have patches where the crust split, or wasn't quite big enough on one side, so I took some of the extra that got cut off around the outside and used it to make up the difference. I don't LOVE making lunch in the morning at 7:00 a.m. and I sometimes swear at the cat when it "sproings" on the window screen just as I am getting all the ingredients out to make a low calorie bagged salad with pre-cooked chicken strips. I drink a glass of wine on Tuesdays, not waiting for Friday, if Tuesday laid me out flat exhausted because sometimes work sucks. Some of my furniture matches, but not all of it and our livingroom looks like a furniture warehouse or display floor because we are stuck with the mother-in-laws furniture and have no where to put it all and god help us if we ever decide to sell this place because there are so many unfinished bits and the thought of packing up our lives makes me feel ill, not like we are thinking of immediately selling, but we'll have to downsize one day.<br /><br />So, to go along with this theme of anti-perfection, here are the preparations for the food that will go to "the city" with us to my brother and sister-in-law's house. I offered up dessert. My brother said they already had a pie in the freezer, so I said I would bring something that "wasn't a pie". So naturally, I looked on Pinterest. I have this HORRIBLE habit of experimenting with recipes that I haven't already tried when we have company over, or when I'm taking food somewhere else. It doesn't always go well. You would think I'd learn.<br /><br />I found a recipe for a pumpkin trifle. Lovely autumnal flavours, but not pie. I also decided to bring something that I had already made once, so would likely be successful: Lunch Lady Brownies. These are also from Pinterest. Not particulary Thanksgiving-y but will go over well, if the aforementioned trifle is a bust.<br /><br />Here is the reality of going to work all day, staying after work to get a bunch of stuff done, getting home to immediately thaw some hamburger and making a quick spaghetti supper whilst throwing in some laundry of clothes we might want to wear to the family gathering tomorrow. At the same time, husband and son had gathered up a rental car because the insurance company has deemed the "kids' car" a write off after being smashed into in a highschool parking lot by a young lady who perhaps needs more practise driving.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSfqkBsdsJI/WdhEsiVCsoI/AAAAAAAACyE/nWKWjemd4LMllqb7TZPkqjV_j9YrAyg4gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mSfqkBsdsJI/WdhEsiVCsoI/AAAAAAAACyE/nWKWjemd4LMllqb7TZPkqjV_j9YrAyg4gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />The trifle was described as easy and delicious. I beg to differ with the 'easy' description. First you have to bake a whole separate dessert - a spice cake. It does come from a boxed mix, so that's not terribly bad. Here it is posing in front of my dollar store compost container which gets used every single day and is hideous inside.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HViLUyrrZFE/WdhFLduvldI/AAAAAAAACyM/mc1OSgLq2qU92KL78t8DV-iVoOA6fFPAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HViLUyrrZFE/WdhFLduvldI/AAAAAAAACyM/mc1OSgLq2qU92KL78t8DV-iVoOA6fFPAACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2103.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here's my work space part way through the process. Notice the not-quite-a-trifle-bowl. I used to use that as a fruit bowl. It'll have to do. You can see my computer print outs of my recipes I was making tonight. I didn't quite get the reading glasses in the shot. Not being able to see properly anymore is a royal pain in the arse, as my baking consists of putting on the glasses, reading the next step in the recipe, taking the glasses off because they make me kind of nauseous if I'm just looking at the world normally, putting the glasses back on because I forgot what the instructions said to do, shifting the glasses down my nose because it bugs me to keep taking them off, pushing them back into place to read the next instruction, taking them off again because it's like swimming through water every time I have to go to the fridge, putting them on...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2xoxPDuzvg/WdhH6GnirfI/AAAAAAAACyY/fD7FOfC50PoDEBHGyp-soTSH0jR3DjJLQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V2xoxPDuzvg/WdhH6GnirfI/AAAAAAAACyY/fD7FOfC50PoDEBHGyp-soTSH0jR3DjJLQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>After the spice cake is baked, you cut it up and rip it apart and making a layer at the bottom of your not-a-trifle-bowl. In retrospect, that layer was too thick.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ululAW2su14/WdhISHbFW1I/AAAAAAAACyc/2tLDWN50KYg0oYPmFXzyk_OrMeiSm6kaQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ululAW2su14/WdhISHbFW1I/AAAAAAAACyc/2tLDWN50KYg0oYPmFXzyk_OrMeiSm6kaQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>The next layer is a combination of pumpkin pie filling mixed with vanilla instant pudding (which I also had to make before hand and chill in the fridge), and a little brown sugar and something else that I can't remember because I'm 51 and a little tired.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7lYRGulBTA/WdhIqV-3nBI/AAAAAAAACyg/sPTV7xlFq-YlpnGePRMjcZz67F13SSQRwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V7lYRGulBTA/WdhIqV-3nBI/AAAAAAAACyg/sPTV7xlFq-YlpnGePRMjcZz67F13SSQRwCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2106.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Here's the pumpkin filling / pudding mixture in my beautiful and well organized fridge underneath the chilling bowl of "stabilized" whipped cream which meant doing the whipping cream thing until you get soft peaks, then using some dissolved gelatin whilst beating the whipped cream to achieve stiff peaks. (How many steps are we at now?)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMtd2Vs1Ubo/WdhJWjRRbII/AAAAAAAACyo/hfhOiN0cXig_90dmrM4uy7m5Jqbq94I5ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jMtd2Vs1Ubo/WdhJWjRRbII/AAAAAAAACyo/hfhOiN0cXig_90dmrM4uy7m5Jqbq94I5ACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2109.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Next comes a layer of broken (on purpose) ginger cookies. They are these...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCDWso_G9bo/WdhJrM9svSI/AAAAAAAACys/4TsneLBnfHgk7kXK9mnMU17_7AbdMBXaACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XCDWso_G9bo/WdhJrM9svSI/AAAAAAAACys/4TsneLBnfHgk7kXK9mnMU17_7AbdMBXaACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>President's Choice English style Gingersnaps which pack a bit of a punch that lingers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crjaufIoLDM/WdhJ-e6THeI/AAAAAAAACyw/Ghy6kLRqLrUWFSy3rnWgz8ftPSxoZaB-QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2110%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-crjaufIoLDM/WdhJ-e6THeI/AAAAAAAACyw/Ghy6kLRqLrUWFSy3rnWgz8ftPSxoZaB-QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2110%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Next comes the whipped cream. Then repeat the whole process again.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cH8IhqrL-ZU/WdhKNVqroMI/AAAAAAAACy0/QLUm2Rn6utE8fZtztO1tXiUAm46ZFukPQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cH8IhqrL-ZU/WdhKNVqroMI/AAAAAAAACy0/QLUm2Rn6utE8fZtztO1tXiUAm46ZFukPQCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Meanwhile, I had already made a pan of brownies (tonight - between making supper and making the multi-step trifle) and then iced them right after they came out of the oven so the icing would melt and flow over the top, to harden again as it sits on my table next to the L.L. Bean catalogue with the Chelsea boots that I really want to order, but the exchange rate from American to Canadian makes them rather expensive but I love the look of them and all the other ones I've seen on line have been more expensive and did I mention I live in small town Ontario and there isn't a decent Chelsea boot within a 200 km radius?<br /><br />But I digress. I realized I hadn't even taken a picture of the finished trifle product so how do you like this one?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Po3Vvu9ftkQ/WdhLz9FCksI/AAAAAAAACzA/HlUh17VqwUEJrWPm73QRdEJAuVmMWmerACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Po3Vvu9ftkQ/WdhLz9FCksI/AAAAAAAACzA/HlUh17VqwUEJrWPm73QRdEJAuVmMWmerACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2115.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>There it is with plastic wrap, all tucked up in our 2nd fridge out in the mudroom, which is perhaps one of the best things in my life. Do you have a second fridge? It makes summer watermelons and beer so much more convenient, and it is indispensable at Christmas (and Thanksgiving and Easter and staff parties ...).<br /><br />Finally, after hanging my freshly laundered pants and shirt on my lovely newish drying rack, and unloading and reloading the dishwasher, handwashing the big cumbersome stuff, and wiping down the counters, I did this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSHAjnHPGrE/WdhNIuAlkUI/AAAAAAAACzM/wns3J3ZPn648WEvvBmBi150FtPdeaRa1QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nSHAjnHPGrE/WdhNIuAlkUI/AAAAAAAACzM/wns3J3ZPn648WEvvBmBi150FtPdeaRa1QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2113.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Then I sat down and wrote this blog post. Just a regular blog. A trifling blog.<br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com41tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-37985593734723230342017-10-01T18:33:00.001-04:002017-10-01T18:33:32.517-04:00October FirstToday couldn't have been more lovely. What a wonderful way to start a new month in my favourite season. I left the house around 10 this morning to get groceries for the week and checked the temperature before I left. I had on jeans, long sleeves and a light jacket. By the time I got out of the store and loaded my groceries, I had to put the air conditioning on for the drive home.<br /><br />My favourite grocery store (where both of my kids had / have part time jobs) had a great deal on fall mums. I bought some more. I set some up on the porch.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpCOgJid6pI/WdFo2eGH8bI/AAAAAAAACwk/AMhy4RrWc3ci4SOjgIv6KyjXHSxWucR8ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qpCOgJid6pI/WdFo2eGH8bI/AAAAAAAACwk/AMhy4RrWc3ci4SOjgIv6KyjXHSxWucR8ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2089.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I need to pick up a few more pumpkins. I did not grow any this year. The Mennonites down the road always have many for sale at a good price.<br /><br />My hydrangeas (have no idea what kind!) are still putting on a nice show of colour.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJEvzsx2vf4/WdFpVlyUknI/AAAAAAAACws/wRUZP0IP_X4hJ-PIbOYQWEu7u1uiw97-gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJEvzsx2vf4/WdFpVlyUknI/AAAAAAAACws/wRUZP0IP_X4hJ-PIbOYQWEu7u1uiw97-gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2092.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I spent a lot of time outside today doing various outdoor clean up projects. Here are some of my pots / urns that are going to be emptied soon. They are looking a little rough. I just put them all in one spot for now and will tackle these sometime this week.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXHqG21aMA/WdFpu1kko4I/AAAAAAAACww/AJURjQLQRvICMm4X8UeW6QmQmWK-xI-mgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFXHqG21aMA/WdFpu1kko4I/AAAAAAAACww/AJURjQLQRvICMm4X8UeW6QmQmWK-xI-mgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2093.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'd say the creeping jenny did well this summer!<br /><br />I put in a couple of hours cutting back and ripping out perennials from a couple of beds in the back yard. There's still a bit more to do here and probably three or four more beds larger than this to complete before the snow flies.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bN6IzgOj4w/WdFqK1MvQRI/AAAAAAAACw0/4PNaaFPsk9sBaaPheBfylzonT_JwkySVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bN6IzgOj4w/WdFqK1MvQRI/AAAAAAAACw0/4PNaaFPsk9sBaaPheBfylzonT_JwkySVgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2095.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'll leave the sedum and black eyed Susan for some colour.<br /><br />When my back screamed that it had had enough, I helped the husband to finish up the last of the pool house chores which consisted of emptying big concrete flower pots, emptying and moving the little fridge that stays at the pool house in the summer, rolling up the rug, stacking furniture, general tidy up... It was a bittersweet task because of the rainy, quite cool summer we had. We really did not enjoy our pool and outdoor space as much as we would have liked. Oh well, some years are like that.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP76OD8sB6k/WdFq6DYtdwI/AAAAAAAACw8/MXWAK8ZviqEJ9iWbrqc0_e_3Qw3n7s_-wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SP76OD8sB6k/WdFq6DYtdwI/AAAAAAAACw8/MXWAK8ZviqEJ9iWbrqc0_e_3Qw3n7s_-wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />All tucked in for another fall / winter.<br /><br />As I was walking back to the house after taking pictures, I thought I would take a shot of the shed with its remaining flowers that still look pretty good. I love the long shadows at this time of day (it was about 5:45 in the afternoon).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5lg7L5sjxo/WdFravLq8RI/AAAAAAAACxE/UuZxkpmPLdg5HCpKI3ps7CuOeiEv753qQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u5lg7L5sjxo/WdFravLq8RI/AAAAAAAACxE/UuZxkpmPLdg5HCpKI3ps7CuOeiEv753qQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8zYm-yRKUI/WdFrlbzXROI/AAAAAAAACxI/NnJkBKEyY9kBMqn3GzRKUVB30tXjgJJ_gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t8zYm-yRKUI/WdFrlbzXROI/AAAAAAAACxI/NnJkBKEyY9kBMqn3GzRKUVB30tXjgJJ_gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2101.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Finally, as this is the time of year for caterpillars, I was told by a colleague that the white caterpillars are to be avoided. After handling them, you can develop sores and blisters on your skin. I think this might be the kind she was speaking of. It was crawling on a back door window. I didn't feel like having blisters, so I moved him unceremoniously with the broom.&nbsp; Anyone know anything about these critters?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZehrbLb0YF4/WdFsGNcakZI/AAAAAAAACxQ/nJkQbUNq-hAkARSEbW8r48EIsCb8GNWbQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZehrbLb0YF4/WdFsGNcakZI/AAAAAAAACxQ/nJkQbUNq-hAkARSEbW8r48EIsCb8GNWbQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2086.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'm now having a nice glass of Beringer cabernet sauv. waiting for son to come home so I can fire up the barbecue for some homemade burgers. Have a nice evening, everyone.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-6820557868192324012017-09-29T17:58:00.004-04:002017-09-29T17:58:55.567-04:00Having not Dropped off the Face of the Earth...Hello anyone out there who might still be looking at my blog and wondering if I've stopped altogether,<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T9Q-5KgzACg/Wc66KfJgADI/AAAAAAAACwE/OEK56i88ongCouh2xKaniVl0qcetlWI1wCLcBGAs/s1600/im-still-here-big.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T9Q-5KgzACg/Wc66KfJgADI/AAAAAAAACwE/OEK56i88ongCouh2xKaniVl0qcetlWI1wCLcBGAs/s400/im-still-here-big.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://ronnyallan.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/im-still-here-big.jpg">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table>I am busy with work, but I'm frequently busy with work and still managed to blog, so what's different this time? I just don't feel like writing right now. I also don't have anything but the mundane going on. I could take pictures of fading perennials or spider webs. I could tell you what I'm having for supper and how many calories it is and how I've been stuck at the same bloody weight for more than a month regardless of tracking every morsel that has passed my lips. (I have managed to lose 30 pounds but the last few are killers). I could describe the latest hot weather which has now turned into typical late September weather.<br /><br />I've written about all of these types of things and I've just hit a wall. I read the blogs on my blog list and thoroughly enjoy everyone else's thoughts and musings and experiences. I truly do look forward to finding out about your lives in England, and the United States, and Greece, and Wales, and France, and other parts of Canada (sorry if I forgot someone). I've just come up a bit empty.<br /><br />So, I am healthy, contented, taking care of my family and myself, letting cats in and out, getting ready for Thanksgiving (Canadian Thanksgiving is in a week), reading a bit, binge watching some British Netflix, wondering how long four years is going to be until I retire, and still picking green beans from my garden. It's all good.<br /><br />No doubt I'll be back blogging regularly down the road. Until then, a very happy Thanksgiving coming up to all my Canadian friends!coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-36935380958144690242017-09-09T10:25:00.000-04:002017-09-09T10:25:05.177-04:00As of Lately,I have been fairly absent from blogging lately due to many busy times. My husband's mother finally got moved to a much nicer retirement home after a year's wait, which meant us packing up her belongings, ahead of time, storing them at our house (or in my case, driving around with my vehicle packed to the hilts until the precise time came when she was to move in), and then moving everything into her new room. Precise is really the word, as we were told she had to come between 4:00 and 4:30 in the afternoon (on a work day!). She is now moved in and much happier, although not really unpacked and I suspect I will be taking some time this week to get her more unpacked (dementia - organization is not really her forte anymore).<br /><br />As well, our son started at a new highschool this past week due to his previous one closing (thank you Ontario government) and the changes and adjustments that came with that are being dealt with. Daughter went back to her fourth year at university, taking on the roll of Don again in a residence. She has Don duty from 8:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. for a few nights. I asked her when she sleeps!! Hopefully not at class time.<br /><br />We feel like we went from summer ( a very wet summer) directly into late fall. It went down to 6 degrees Celsius! (That is six degrees above freezing). I feel like I might as well just rip out my vegetable garden now.<br /><br />Here are some pictures I took in the past couple of weeks of what is blooming right now. There is still lots of beautiful colour in the yard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wj1FqVDfNbA/WbPxb16vUTI/AAAAAAAACuo/Aw8tZOM6qwYReh6X7id7Ome-GZMt4sDnACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wj1FqVDfNbA/WbPxb16vUTI/AAAAAAAACuo/Aw8tZOM6qwYReh6X7id7Ome-GZMt4sDnACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>This is a flower that was gifted to me by a work colleague. This was its best year (all that rain!) It is informally known as turtle head, but I am not sure of the specific name.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qkr2jYs5k8/WbPyCIKajDI/AAAAAAAACuw/YhXRd0rvyToamKpEfulC4oRvm5sg5PErwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qkr2jYs5k8/WbPyCIKajDI/AAAAAAAACuw/YhXRd0rvyToamKpEfulC4oRvm5sg5PErwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2047.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Here are the blooms up close. It is a really lovely plant for this time of year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvEVxeT4wnE/WbPyRQvDs6I/AAAAAAAACu0/vonuQkGXZAMVTjv9bPpIUeYMEgrc76EkgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2050%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SvEVxeT4wnE/WbPyRQvDs6I/AAAAAAAACu0/vonuQkGXZAMVTjv9bPpIUeYMEgrc76EkgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2050%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Of course, Rudbekia (Black Eyed Susan) is in its glory.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDXUan-DNFc/WbPykg3UpnI/AAAAAAAACu4/XQGiIbpSydcI883ijJ-ZVL6tYPv0FzeZwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YDXUan-DNFc/WbPykg3UpnI/AAAAAAAACu4/XQGiIbpSydcI883ijJ-ZVL6tYPv0FzeZwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2051.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I believe this is called Pink Diamond hydrangea. It has turned an even darker pink since I took this picture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUfaPrGKfMs/WbPy4TaIF3I/AAAAAAAACu8/qD1xOuJIzxAZ_nnMCgEpIIVp-ewzDZvIACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hUfaPrGKfMs/WbPy4TaIF3I/AAAAAAAACu8/qD1xOuJIzxAZ_nnMCgEpIIVp-ewzDZvIACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2043.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>I don't know what this little guy will turn into.<br /><br />Last weekend, husband and I went out for brunch and then drove around the general area, about an hour and a half away from our home. It was a pretty nice day (i.e. it wasn't pouring rain) and we drove quite a bit along a lake and marvelled at the beautiful homes, imagining what these people must do for a living in order to be able to afford them! At one point during our drive, we saw this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Tc9r05t5f0/WbPztcbcUqI/AAAAAAAACvI/bD2R_VtaBq0DKPvKtHEYdDcgsgNt8U2_ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--Tc9r05t5f0/WbPztcbcUqI/AAAAAAAACvI/bD2R_VtaBq0DKPvKtHEYdDcgsgNt8U2_ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2060.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>What is going on with that dead tree?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HxAncBacWqI/WbPz-DjpeKI/AAAAAAAACvM/Iqdmp5bPBQoXsd0xTWhcXqNEiswmVHBQACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HxAncBacWqI/WbPz-DjpeKI/AAAAAAAACvM/Iqdmp5bPBQoXsd0xTWhcXqNEiswmVHBQACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2059.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>Oh look! A face!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GNupB5QBiU/WbP0J7vgP8I/AAAAAAAACvQ/tgmlI1xOe_QddVGulc7rySifY03Vhj-0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0GNupB5QBiU/WbP0J7vgP8I/AAAAAAAACvQ/tgmlI1xOe_QddVGulc7rySifY03Vhj-0QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2058.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>And another face!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZIQt7toqGk/WbP0YkWLmZI/AAAAAAAACvU/uLP_PFPGCbkmYyeszzlCJdZbroZTmX0zQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WZIQt7toqGk/WbP0YkWLmZI/AAAAAAAACvU/uLP_PFPGCbkmYyeszzlCJdZbroZTmX0zQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2061.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />In this portion of our province, you can see many rock faces which are part of the escarpment. Many moons ago, my husband did quite a bit of rock climbing. He looks at these rock faces and imagines how he would tackle them.<br /><br />This is also the time of year for flocking. A couple of days ago, I walked out into the kitchen and it was a scene from "The Birds". The pictures don't really capture how MANY birds there were. I think they are starlings.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiVzTbByFSk/WbP1eDTHy2I/AAAAAAAACvc/EAe2DklulEIEFuxHyozZfkas2CORhim8ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wiVzTbByFSk/WbP1eDTHy2I/AAAAAAAACvc/EAe2DklulEIEFuxHyozZfkas2CORhim8ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2075.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5UV1ZWI14U/WbP1nuDAEEI/AAAAAAAACvg/DG4zGJJQQMIP40keoLjXFOBUe02qBlxfACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5UV1ZWI14U/WbP1nuDAEEI/AAAAAAAACvg/DG4zGJJQQMIP40keoLjXFOBUe02qBlxfACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2080.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />We are currently watching news and weather reports regarding Hurricane Irma. A friend of ours is waiting to see what happens for her mother who lives in Florida and will be going to a shelter today. I'm hoping that with all the pre-warning, as many people as possible have been able to be prepared and get some place safe. But it's not just the actual hurricane, it's the aftermath and how long it will take to clean up, wait for the water to recede, and rebuild if necessary. I can't imagine. We've been to Cuba a couple of times and know what type of housing the average person lives in. I also can't imagine what a category 5 hurricane will do to those! Take care, everyone!coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-32463813002680543772017-08-27T21:20:00.001-04:002017-08-27T21:20:48.083-04:00Writing - You'll Never Know Until You TryWriting has always come easily for me. I never found the concept of grammar difficult. Spelling isn't usually an issue. I enjoy words. I like finding out the origins of expressions. I so appreciate well written stories, books, instructions... I write a great deal for my job. This blog, however, was the first time that I had ever written for pleasure and allowed other people to read my writing.<br /><br />I have never been one to put myself out there in situations where I think I may come off looking like a fool. For example, I do not possess great physical prowess, so I am always hesitant (read "never will") to try things like downhill skiing, roller blading, group sports, etc. for fear that I will be so atrocious at it (or will seriously hurt myself). I'm not saying this is a healthy attitude, but it's how I am. Please don't recommend counselling. The one thing which is in stark contrast with this chicken shit persona is speaking in public. I actually don't have a problem getting up in front of a large group of people and speaking as long as I am prepared, or know what is needed of me. But don't ask me to hit a ball, or dive into the deep end, or play piano. Please don't ever ask me to play piano in front of anyone except maybe my cat.<br /><br />So it was a bit of a leap for me to blog and send my words out into the great "inter web". It was shocking to receive that first comment. It was a greater shock that people returned to read what I had to say. I'm still completely thrilled and delighted to see comments (unless it is that creepy weird Asian spam comment).<br /><br />Many moons ago, when my crazy grandmother was still alive, she would say that I was going to write children's stories when I grew up. When I was little (4, 5, 6 years old or thereabouts) I spent a lot of time drawing stories in booklets of plain newsprint. I would draw out the various scenes of stories, often about the Easter bunny (still love rabbits!), then would narrate them to my grandmother as she was working away in the kitchen. I did this because my older sister did the same thing. She would draw stories for me and tell me the stories out loud. There was an ongoing one that involved a squirrel (Sammy?) I adored these stories. It wasn't unusual to create illustrated stories. This was long before technology or even cable or satellite tv. I drew and created stories for fun. But as I say, my grandmother was crazy, so what did she know? She had full on arguments with the radio.<br /><br />Where am I going with this? I am trying to gather up the nerve (because I feel this is a brave thing to do) to take that first leap into writing. I get worried about the what-ifs. I think too far into the future. My husband, who is always so encouraging, has told me to not even think about publishers or rejections, or copyrights, but instead to just write. Just write something. I think I could write for children because I've read a great deal of junk written for children and question how it ever got published. I feel that I could write rhyming stories, humorous stories, stories that children could relate to.<br /><br />With my humble little blog, I am asking for guidance, suggestions, practical details, anything that you could tell me because YOU have written something and got it published, or your brother has, or you have a neighbour who works for a publishing company, or you are a free lance writer, or your great aunt Matilda writes for Hallmark cards, or anything! I'm not digging for compliments. I'm actually hoping somebody out there has already been down this road and can offer up some helpful hints on how to even begin and how to go from writing in long hand on three ring binder paper to actually sending an idea to a publisher.<br /><br />Thank you, ahead of time, for any and all suggestions!<br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-68881264484200138912017-08-25T22:41:00.000-04:002017-08-27T20:41:24.710-04:00What's For Supper / Nearing the end of AugustThere is a palatable change in the air. It is always this time in August that the crickets are noticeable, there's a bit of a snap to the morning air, many flowers have faded, while others become dominant. Although I LOVE summer, I actually really like how this time of year feels. Normally, flower beds look bedraggled and crispy, but of course this year with our relentless rain, everything is lush and full. The "snap" of the morning air was closer to "bloody cold" these past couple of mornings. We are supposed to go down to a low of 6 degrees tonight!! (Celsius - have no clue what that is fahrenheit, but 0 is freezing).<br /><br />Normally, as well, I have a glut of garden produce, but the relentless rain caused a lot of blight, etc. so my glut occurred with my strawberries. I have some beans, some zucchini, quite a few cucumbers. The rabbits continue to trim the peas as soon as they grow a little, and the tomatoes, well let's all just bow our heads and grieve over the loss of the potential tomatoes. I've dug out a few potatoes (like buried treasure!!) but even they show the effect of too much moisture with hollow discoloured centres, although the rest of them are still quite edible.<br /><br />Recently, blueberries were a very good price in the grocery store, so I bought a giant container. I seemed to be the only one eating them, so I had to decide how to use them before they became a loss. I got out my trusty recipe book. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNdA_CmiBnk/WaDXi5TfxDI/AAAAAAAACtA/32E0b39Jvoc6QtAnAWM-_f5TKZDECkGAgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oNdA_CmiBnk/WaDXi5TfxDI/AAAAAAAACtA/32E0b39Jvoc6QtAnAWM-_f5TKZDECkGAgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2025.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I love these recipe books (there are three altogether, created by the two sisters pictured on the front cover). They were originally published as low fat recipes, but they are just tasty and fun, regardless of being low fat or not (sugar is the devil, anyway, not fat).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YX58zHRHbB0/WaDYQjYFDFI/AAAAAAAACtI/h_C4Nu3gwmwIGRnAfz1xA1VQyaymos44gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YX58zHRHbB0/WaDYQjYFDFI/AAAAAAAACtI/h_C4Nu3gwmwIGRnAfz1xA1VQyaymos44gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2022.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love the names of their recipes, always with some kind of corny pun involved. I frequently write in my recipe books, with helpful future hints, or even a rating from the family. Obviously this recipe was a winner. So I made it again and indeed it was very good.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjRjk9WP5Ko/WaDYsLLGJ2I/AAAAAAAACtM/53wimRCIQGYTFzyOnfsM06TK2A_eRjfHgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mjRjk9WP5Ko/WaDYsLLGJ2I/AAAAAAAACtM/53wimRCIQGYTFzyOnfsM06TK2A_eRjfHgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>This was the oats mixture that gets put on top.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-uKdCwhiS0/WaDY5nXCk6I/AAAAAAAACtQ/LD6ZmXXflPI5-c9DPm0vLpNEduleOlO0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E-uKdCwhiS0/WaDY5nXCk6I/AAAAAAAACtQ/LD6ZmXXflPI5-c9DPm0vLpNEduleOlO0QCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2020.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here are the blueberries mixed with sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZyS_2OlRTY/WaDZKmU0PeI/AAAAAAAACtU/mq_OgNXminoMb8fPb6YE7fcnGdbUk-WdwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZyS_2OlRTY/WaDZKmU0PeI/AAAAAAAACtU/mq_OgNXminoMb8fPb6YE7fcnGdbUk-WdwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2024.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This makes a big dish of dessert. I like it served warm with a little milk, but we've had it with vanilla yogurt, or frozen yogurt, or just plain. It does stain the dickens out of your teeth, however, so brush well after eating!<br /><br /><br />Today I got my hair dealt with, regrowth at the roots dyed and some lowlights dragged through my overly blonde hair. I sincerely hate getting my hair coloured, not because of the chemicals, or the price (although it is pretty pricey), but being captive for almost two hours having to make small talk with someone that I have very little in common with. I'm a fairly private person (who writes a blog... I know, a bit of a contradiction) and I just don't enjoy that constant banter of question / answer that is part of sitting in a hair stylist's chair. I have tried various hairdressers over the years. I know it's just my problem, probably other people think it's a lovely treat, but I just want to be quiet.<br /><br />Anyway, after getting home, I embarked on something I've been wanting to do for a little while. I was inspired by Mama Pea over at <a href="http://ahomegrownjournal.blogspot.ca/2017/08/bummer-summer.html">A Homegrown Journal</a> who has written a few times about her stuffed peppers. Now, I do NOT have any mature peppers yet (the poor little things, I don't think they'll ever see full maturity before we get frost!), but I have been harbouring a few zucchini in the crispers for a little while now. So, I looked up a some recipes for stuffed zucchini, had a look at what I had in the house and concocted some filling for my scooped out zucchinis. In no particular order or quantities, I combined ground beef, onions, green peppers, soft bread crumbs, egg, parsley, basil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, leftover cooked rice, and some plain spaghetti sauce. I let my stuffed zucchini bake away in a 350 oven for at least 45 minutes (the meat mixture was raw when I put it in the oven) and then put a little mozzarella cheese on top to melt. They were pretty good! I like that you get the flavour of meat / spaghetti sauce without the pasta, and it uses up at least two zucchini!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXKyMSoSuhE/WaDc6Ww_c9I/AAAAAAAACtg/gOk8aheWKIsXtc_wgqFYNra0DCeu5PJQgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cXKyMSoSuhE/WaDc6Ww_c9I/AAAAAAAACtg/gOk8aheWKIsXtc_wgqFYNra0DCeu5PJQgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2041.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Here are a couple of hollowed out zucchini boats.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2yWghOuQU/WaDdK04lufI/AAAAAAAACtk/GE-EDaCFrnMdBgA3rG4geQoT9yKkqCUmQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ns2yWghOuQU/WaDdK04lufI/AAAAAAAACtk/GE-EDaCFrnMdBgA3rG4geQoT9yKkqCUmQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2042.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really heaped up the meat mixture so each one got lots of filling. Here they are pre-baking. I didn't take a picture of the finished product, because we were hungry. I would definitely make this again, although the filling could change depending on what's in the fridge.<br /><br />I've been typing this while listening to news casts about the hurricane affecting Texas and surrounding areas. I hope everyone is safe and secure. We don't get hurricanes here. I guess our natural disasters would be tornados and to a lesser extent, blizzards. It's always scary when nature takes over and is far more powerful than you are.coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-26331352186890205572017-08-17T23:46:00.001-04:002017-08-27T20:41:44.236-04:00Jiggity JigYesterday, we went to the "big city", well, <i>a </i>big city. Just husband and I. We went to Costco. This is a big deal because we never go to Costco. (It's a big box store where you have to buy a membership and you can buy all kinds of large amounts of things from office supplies to groceries to toys). We had been earlier this summer to renew a very expired membership, but their machine that takes the pictures and produces the membership cards wasn't working, so they sent us home with an official piece of paper saying we had paid. <br /><br />We decided to officially get our membership cards and have a look around. Because we so very rarely go to Costco, the place still amazes me. The giant boxes of<i> everything </i>just astound me. I am also floored by the prices of food. There was a huge pie for an incredibly good price. Why would you bake???? My husband bought a great brick of old cheddar for the price that we would pay for one half that size. I can see why some people who live right in the city do their regular grocery shopping there. <br /><br />Costco is also a very dangerous place, to me anyway. You can easily convince yourself that you need the 24 pack of coloured Sharpie markers ( I LOVE Sharpies), or the dual pack of Nutella, or the muffins that are the size of cakes. Heck, you could buy a mattress, or a refrigerator, or a sectional couch. But I have now discovered the best way to go to Costco. You must go there in a little two-seater car, which is what we did. &nbsp;No back seat and a relatively small trunk completely prevents you from overspending! I actually had to take things out of boxes and throw the boxes away in the parking lot garbage can so they would fit in the trunk! I think the worst way to get to Costco is in a van, or a pickup truck. Then, you likely would leave with a refrigerator. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAZ-vICIPyI/WZZfkfcawuI/AAAAAAAACsg/O6SuQQQSLoMddv15HwFlvwUaP4MVqN9YQCLcBGAs/s1600/1CyW0A9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="600" height="292" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zAZ-vICIPyI/WZZfkfcawuI/AAAAAAAACsg/O6SuQQQSLoMddv15HwFlvwUaP4MVqN9YQCLcBGAs/s400/1CyW0A9.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://uberhumor.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/1CyW0A9.png">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As it turns out, we will <u>never</u> run out of packing tape, I will truly enjoy my Sharpie markers, there is a tray of giant muffins in my fridge, my new slippers are fabulous, we have enough extra strength no name ibuprofen for an&nbsp;infinite amount of headaches, and I've already stashed away the triple pack of goldfish crackers so my son doesn't eat them all in one day. <br /><br />I am actually very glad that I don't live close to a Costco. I fear my control would be tested. coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-65384205911828174902017-08-15T20:14:00.001-04:002017-08-27T20:42:11.157-04:00Save SomeIt's Tuesday. Nothing special, just a normal Tuesday, so I made just a normal supper. We had burritos. You know, the kind made with Ol' El Passo tortilla wraps and ground beef seasoned with taco seasoning. Throw on some cut up peppers, onions, cheese, and salsa and there's dinner. <br /><br />My daughter was working tonight and would not be home until after 9:00. That means she will want supper when she gets home. That means I had to remind my husband, when he went back for seconds that he has to save some meat for her. There was plenty of everything else, but a limited amount of seasoned ground beef. Sometimes (often) my husband will just "clean up" the food that is still there by eating it. I do have to mention that one, or both of our kids will want some of this when they get back home. This is standard. But I still say something. I must be annoying. <br /><br />There is a reason, though. I don't know if you have a husband, wife, partner, dog, whatever, that cannot be trusted around food. Although this picture is not my daughter's, it is something she has done on various occasions with leftover take out food, usually pizza. (She does not include the death part).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="500" height="311" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WWPUbPn-nx8/WZOCLkfgTpI/AAAAAAAACrk/M9SFIHdfnRUtvDuQjJq9bvrMiXK8W2xgQCLcBGAs/s320/do-not-eat.jpg" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://pics.onsizzle.com/Instagram-Dont-touch-my-food-fam-05caf0.png">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sometimes it works, other times he doesn't even look at the box. There have been many sticky notes over the years. One thing I have had to hide is cheese. God love him, he really can't be trusted with cheese. I will put cheese in the crisper drawer instead of in the drawer where we keep sandwich meat, eggs, and cheese. In the past, when I was the lunch-making mama, I would sometimes buy special sliced cheese like Havarti or swiss for sandwiches. If I did not hide it, there wouldn't be enough for sandwiches that week. <br /><br />His birthday was this past week. He LOVES Stilton blue cheese. I bought him a nice big piece, but I was planning on using a bit of it in the salad and to go with the steak I was making for his birthday dinner. So, I put it in a paper&nbsp;pharmacy bag and kept it in our other fridge until the birthday supper. It was safe. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I work in a place where almost everybody brings their own lunch from home. There is a fridge in which you can keep your lunch if it needs to be refrigerated. Every once in a while someone mistakes someone else's food for their own. This usually happens when it is not in an actual lunch bag. Some people bring their food in just a grocery bag, or they just have a yogurt or some fruit that they put in the fridge. I find this utterly ridiculous. If I made my lunch, I would know which one is my lunch! <br /><br />But what is worse, is the person who just leaves their food in the fridge, and then forgets about it. I've gone on some mighty fridge purges at work, reading "best before" dates out loud before chucking them in the garbage. The mold encrusted food, the leaking container, the shrimp dear lord the shrimp, the very very old cream... it's all been tossed after I just can't take it anymore. How do you <u>not</u> know you've left your food for that long??<br /><br />But I digress, my theme was making sure there&nbsp;are leftovers for those people who are not present at meal time due to varying work schedules by reminding my husband not to eat it all. You know, this is usually only a meat issue. I've never had to say, "Leave some of that salad!" or "Make sure there are still cucumbers!" or "Don't eat the last of the carrots!" It's not that he doesn't eat vegetables, but meat is really his passion. <br /><br />Not to sound perfect, if there is chocolate in the house, there really is no hiding from me!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ1Eh5N6KhM/WZOJTcFkl-I/AAAAAAAACsA/fd-jzyCUY9k8XM9nQZYc8BcOsLw1OeIQQCLcBGAs/s1600/touch-chocolate-reminders-ecard-someecards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="237" data-original-width="425" height="222" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zQ1Eh5N6KhM/WZOJTcFkl-I/AAAAAAAACsA/fd-jzyCUY9k8XM9nQZYc8BcOsLw1OeIQQCLcBGAs/s400/touch-chocolate-reminders-ecard-someecards.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.someecards.com/reminders-cards/dont-touch-my-chocolate/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sometimes chips are on sale (potato chips = crisps to my lovely English readers) so I will buy a couple of bags. Both of my children are terrible for staying up late. One likes to be in front of the tv in the den until all hours and the other prefers his bedroom with his computer. They both like to snack. I hide the chips in my bedroom closet. I think they both know they are there, but they know my closet is off limits (like little kids at Christmas who know where the presents are hidden, but don't want to spoil the surprise). I like to have snacks in reserve if someone should drop by. <br /><br />There have been many times over the years when I have gone to the fridge to get something that I was planning on making, or using in a recipe, or putting in someone's lunch only to look high and low, and then utter the famous words, "R., did you eat the ________?"&nbsp;&nbsp; They are usually followed by a , "Sorry, I didn't know!!"<br /><br />I shall finish with something that perhaps a few of us can relate to:<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZVJs-3F_vQ/WZONAOnJJYI/AAAAAAAACsM/-vDKBaMVrTsXhmWthk8dMQfhjgVDXfCcgCLcBGAs/s1600/1334196700173_2666763.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="420" height="280" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cZVJs-3F_vQ/WZONAOnJJYI/AAAAAAAACsM/-vDKBaMVrTsXhmWthk8dMQfhjgVDXfCcgCLcBGAs/s400/1334196700173_2666763.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/MjAxMi1lYmY0ODEyY2FkYTdhNjVj/">source</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-43690075573222144072017-08-09T12:55:00.000-04:002017-08-27T20:42:49.975-04:00A New Post.I admit I've been a neglectful blogger. I just haven't had a lot to write about. However, I have taken some pictures, some from a while ago, so here goes a long, "picture-ful" post.<br /><br />I had taken some flower pictures last week to show what's thriving.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VmYcRCeMs0/WYs3C5_WtyI/AAAAAAAACqY/POzKsxkl2oopYz4y-FYT5rNZCLVErNZ9wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0VmYcRCeMs0/WYs3C5_WtyI/AAAAAAAACqY/POzKsxkl2oopYz4y-FYT5rNZCLVErNZ9wCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1994.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Although this constant rain has been a pain in the neck and interfered with sunshine for most of the summer, my urns are doing very well. I try to fertilize every week or week and a half.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dU4JAstKIGg/WYs3ZA823kI/AAAAAAAACqc/ThFMbCtfzEE8o5X36PUUqts62HYzjevnwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dU4JAstKIGg/WYs3ZA823kI/AAAAAAAACqc/ThFMbCtfzEE8o5X36PUUqts62HYzjevnwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1999.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I took this picture for Joanne (Cup on the Bus) to show her my obedient plants and see if she thinks that is what she has in her garden. They are definitely August bloomers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFi3KOf-PZo/WYs3vWvqFHI/AAAAAAAACqg/kZFThqQlZL0Nxau3BOTHUfN_Z2hpT_edACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WFi3KOf-PZo/WYs3vWvqFHI/AAAAAAAACqg/kZFThqQlZL0Nxau3BOTHUfN_Z2hpT_edACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />This clematis was given to me 11 years ago. It has bloomed once before. (I am a patient gardener). This year it is putting on its best show ever.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3NIbECgFKy4/WYs4ECYniEI/AAAAAAAACqk/ebI4lvZiU-gNNm7tO9l6Jj2smaTbqT_hgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3NIbECgFKy4/WYs4ECYniEI/AAAAAAAACqk/ebI4lvZiU-gNNm7tO9l6Jj2smaTbqT_hgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2003.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Quite obviously I have not managed to rip out all of my black eyed Susan. This picture is actually trying to show you one of my favourite fillers: Russian sage. Again, this year it is doing remarkably well and the purple plus the height create a lovely background for so many flowers. You can see my giant hydrangea behind it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--CRccd6xl9Y/WYs4lmhA7wI/AAAAAAAACqo/jdkCrbxS1w0PkkotOSnu11g7_NtnJxyVgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--CRccd6xl9Y/WYs4lmhA7wI/AAAAAAAACqo/jdkCrbxS1w0PkkotOSnu11g7_NtnJxyVgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Onward to the vegetable garden, which you would think, would be thriving beautifully with all this rain. Not so much. This is a collection of about 4 or 5 cucumber plants. In previous years, the vines would have been roaming across half the garden. I am at least harvesting some cucumbers here and there. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_k0m5APD3Y/WYs5FJ7Sw1I/AAAAAAAACqw/eL0h_VvRN9sk0cyCTtOsMrxF4MQFRIvDgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x_k0m5APD3Y/WYs5FJ7Sw1I/AAAAAAAACqw/eL0h_VvRN9sk0cyCTtOsMrxF4MQFRIvDgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />May I now introduce to you the world's saddest patch of tomatoes. This well and truly breaks my heart. They developed blight very early in the season and there was no coming back. I even bought expensive copper-something-or-other powder that I mixed with water and sprayed on the leaves. It didn't matter. By now in other years, my tomatoes have been so huge that I've had to pound wooden stakes in along with the tomato cages so they didn't keep falling over from their own weight. Next year I will have to plant them elsewhere because I think the blight can stay in the soil. No, I do not put the dead leaves in my compost. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6syVEDQluY8/WYs28YV-M6I/AAAAAAAACqs/yYk6mCH5EJs7HFueg3iScb8EyjmqcARqwCEwYBhgL/s1600/IMG_2009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6syVEDQluY8/WYs28YV-M6I/AAAAAAAACqs/yYk6mCH5EJs7HFueg3iScb8EyjmqcARqwCEwYBhgL/s640/IMG_2009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />These guys are my only hope for toasted tomato sandwiches. Sniff. It reminds me of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree bending over with the weight of&nbsp; one ornament.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrKKMCZ3IhQ/WYs6I0bRJeI/AAAAAAAACq4/I2aFx29LiCA9opbZhId39r8m0ZVn89USwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hrKKMCZ3IhQ/WYs6I0bRJeI/AAAAAAAACq4/I2aFx29LiCA9opbZhId39r8m0ZVn89USwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2007.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Here is what husband has been busy with . Our shed now has a red metal roof like the rest of the structures on our property. He's been working away, strapping over the old shingles, and cutting the metal and putting it up. This morning he was finishing the ridge. Do you see him up there? I asked him if his running shoes had "sticky" enough soles. He makes me nervous. He built the shed himself about 16 years ago.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKpbnZxi2YQ/WYs6oTSdmFI/AAAAAAAACrA/Uggi3OghVQMn1GibDr8gqoLcYGZU5e0oQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OKpbnZxi2YQ/WYs6oTSdmFI/AAAAAAAACrA/Uggi3OghVQMn1GibDr8gqoLcYGZU5e0oQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2010.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />There he is!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usodbzfSchc/WYs60kxWaTI/AAAAAAAACrE/d-RWvNlhOIEzIv_Fb1pnh8WAmuBvzGg6ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usodbzfSchc/WYs60kxWaTI/AAAAAAAACrE/d-RWvNlhOIEzIv_Fb1pnh8WAmuBvzGg6ACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2004.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />This, to move onto a totally different subject, is the back of my daughter's head. She had just quickly&nbsp;put it back into a braid and I took a picture of it on my phone so she could see how incredible her hair looked. All those variations of colour are totally natural. Lucky duck. I'd have to shell out about a hundred dollars to get highlights like that!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdPimhIz1-8/WYs7WWFA95I/AAAAAAAACrM/IzXupkoandkpOb6xtlKBkEZld-SbUmYPACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZdPimhIz1-8/WYs7WWFA95I/AAAAAAAACrM/IzXupkoandkpOb6xtlKBkEZld-SbUmYPACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2011.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlsMXLNItiM/WYs7rYCWyVI/AAAAAAAACrQ/vQjKsWluqWI0gij77UcR26vaZgCu_waOQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NlsMXLNItiM/WYs7rYCWyVI/AAAAAAAACrQ/vQjKsWluqWI0gij77UcR26vaZgCu_waOQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_2012.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Yup, so that didn't work. Sorry those are sideways. I am also too lazy to go back and try to turn them before uploading them again. Tomorrow is husband's birthday. He'll be a big 53 years old. Today I will bake a cake, a really good decadent chocolate cake, layered, for his birthday. That is what I do. To me, a homemade cake means 'I care' and 'you are important enough that I will make the effort to bake you a cake'. I remember being shocked and little disapproving when I first started going out with my husband and on birthdays in their family, they just got a purchased cake, and not even anything terribly special. Funny, the things that matter to one person, but not another.<br /><br />Finally, I need to ask, are any of you getting weird comments on your blogs that are just pieced together comments written by other people and seem to be coming from an Asian source? What have you been doing with them? I delete them sometimes and other times click on spam, although truth be told, I have no idea what happens when you mark something as spam. I'm concerned it is some sort of virus infiltrating my computer and doing terrible things. Anyone know anything??<br /><br />Hope you are all enjoying your second week of August. It is lovely and hot here (for the moment).coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-50115122031099852192017-07-30T21:21:00.001-04:002017-07-30T22:08:03.984-04:00Gorgeous Day, Hanging out with AlpacasWell it doesn't get better than the beautiful day we had today. It was sunny first thing in the morning and the temperature was lovely and hot. We even hung out down by the pool for a while. Husband went in, but it was still too cold for me (76 degrees F). It is difficult getting the pool up to temperature this summer due to lack of sunshine (we use solar heaters) and the fact that any heat we have is lost over night. If we get a couple more sunny days, it will make a huge difference!<br /><br />Today our daughter went to a local alpaca farm. She has a summer job working for a radio station, driving around to events and places helping to promote them by posting photos and writing&nbsp;information that goes on the radio's website and other social media. She had contacted the owners to see if they would like her to promote their business and they were happy to have her. My husband and I tagged along. I&nbsp;had visited this farm a couple of years ago with my kids and previously posted about it. This was the first visit for my husband.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y-P0uhAUmQ/WX58TvflslI/AAAAAAAACoo/dPqo17rvq5Y1QhxhNCsQOlc5MR1paq2VQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Y-P0uhAUmQ/WX58TvflslI/AAAAAAAACoo/dPqo17rvq5Y1QhxhNCsQOlc5MR1paq2VQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1980.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />We learned a lot about alpacas and how to raise them from the owner. (He is a retired secondary school math teacher and was a fantastic tutor for our son this year, too!) <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtjfDAlslZw/WX58sVxvQrI/AAAAAAAACos/CmYamhj_vqooQyOfjCnou9mrZFJEx6XIwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AtjfDAlslZw/WX58sVxvQrI/AAAAAAAACos/CmYamhj_vqooQyOfjCnou9mrZFJEx6XIwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1977.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />They all wanted a treat from the bucket! They are very gentle. One thing I love about them is the sound they make which is little bit like Chewbacca from Star Wars. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJyW3_4dh-Q/WX59NoC2AQI/AAAAAAAACow/tnutBD160Z0m1w8TIoQT7-3cn_VAmhvlgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IJyW3_4dh-Q/WX59NoC2AQI/AAAAAAAACow/tnutBD160Z0m1w8TIoQT7-3cn_VAmhvlgCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think this little one is about three weeks to a month old. I just wanted to hug it, but it stayed just an arm's length away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />My daughter really tried&nbsp;to get these little ones to come closer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sI8LUsI9c4/WX59xuIOZKI/AAAAAAAACo4/5VfiZpgFk-4NELeWg3M0oHhRh5elanwqwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5sI8LUsI9c4/WX59xuIOZKI/AAAAAAAACo4/5VfiZpgFk-4NELeWg3M0oHhRh5elanwqwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1952.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Almost!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyaq_YpoyLE/WX5-COt22eI/AAAAAAAACo8/wJYvBt2o76UT3YCF5mZ2IgBUaUHkRlS4gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tyaq_YpoyLE/WX5-COt22eI/AAAAAAAACo8/wJYvBt2o76UT3YCF5mZ2IgBUaUHkRlS4gCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1957.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />No, this isn't a disturbing picture of an alpaca having some sort of seizure. She is just enjoying a nice rolly dust bath. <br /><br />I'm a real sucker for animals. If money were no object, I would have a perfect little hobby farm with chickens, ducks, a couple alpacas, maybe a sheep or two,&nbsp;perhaps a miniature horse. I do realize what a lot of work it is to have animals, so for now I'm more than happy to visit other peoples' farms. <br /><br />The alpacas are tidy, inquisitive animals. They are not good at being solitary animals, you should always have at least two. The couple who own the farm make most of their money selling the fleece. I am certainly not a knitter, so the fleece is of little interest to me. Because these pack animals are originally from South America, they have all been given Spanish names. <br /><br />Back home after supper, I put in some time raking and loading up more apples. At least this bunch is bigger than the first very small ones which made clean up easier. <br /><br />It is amazing what a difference a change in weather can make in one's mood and perspective. I was about to say I am&nbsp;looking forward to another nice day, but when I just checked the online forecast, it indicated rain for the next seven days. Oh well, I have some books from the library to keep me happy for a few days. coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2372726504543914139.post-80502827184973298722017-07-26T18:04:00.000-04:002017-07-26T18:04:04.773-04:00The Great OutdoorsWhen the heck did it become July 26th? Summer seems to be zooming by and I'd be hard pressed to say how I've been spending my time. Today, I awoke to a cool, drizzly morning. When I got dressed, I put on shorts, and a long sleeved top. It just felt too chilly for short sleeves. After the light rain passed over, I got outside to do a little weeding in my vegetable garden and a perennial bed. My goal has been to dig out the "baby" trees that have shown up where they shouldn't be. Many of these are walnut trees, no doubt planted by squirrels. The others are what I call Manitoba maples. Yesterday I got started on some and had to call on my husband because they were just too difficult to dig out. Well, naturally a small job became a big job and after much cutting, lopping, digging, and loading up of the Gorilla cart (three times) and dumping in the burn pile, most trees were gone. They had grown up in and around a giant old mock orange and some other shrubs. <br /><br />I set my sights on smaller trees that had to go. I didn't start without my two best friends:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YytezUnoLLs/WXkKIHBVvFI/AAAAAAAACnU/SrBsqilhpxIX1yrjrXNTyeJr4u48T6jAACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YytezUnoLLs/WXkKIHBVvFI/AAAAAAAACnU/SrBsqilhpxIX1yrjrXNTyeJr4u48T6jAACLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1936.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />-gardening gloves and bug spray!<br /><br />I managed to get rid of a few more, although there was one that I must confess I just cut off close to the bottom. I never would have been able to dig it out without a complete massacre of all plants and shrubs around it. I also tackled some basic weeding.<br /><br />With those jobs being done, I moved on to the next one. It is an apple year with our old apple tree which only produces every two years. Someone else is also aware that it is an apple year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOeUVr3_Cas/WXkLvuXZWrI/AAAAAAAACng/F-8c57aGLF4zlKPNmpp0LUR8BBLppZd0QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zOeUVr3_Cas/WXkLvuXZWrI/AAAAAAAACng/F-8c57aGLF4zlKPNmpp0LUR8BBLppZd0QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1932.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Now, don't get me wrong, they can eat as many apples as they want. We don't use them as they are too tiny, sour, and insect ridden for us. However, they don't stop at apples. They enjoy beans, peas, and parsley. <br /><br />They apples need to be raked up so that the grass can be properly cut. As well, they quickly rot and attract wasps. I got my rake and tackled the job.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nSf9JpeyHRg/WXkMvC7fpDI/AAAAAAAACno/TbR6NhOGu38hji8LyDGNBfm1fZt3p1XWQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nSf9JpeyHRg/WXkMvC7fpDI/AAAAAAAACno/TbR6NhOGu38hji8LyDGNBfm1fZt3p1XWQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1939.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The apples get raked into piles.<br /><br /><br />Then, the apples are scooped up and loaded into the Gorilla cart (what would we do without that thing??) and pulled by the lawn mower and dumped elsewhere. This process will continue several times throughout the summer until the apples are done dropping from the tree.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqcFa8J7Edg/WXkNlD3zFUI/AAAAAAAACn0/KUmYI7sBgeQq81GpIvVAI1eJXe2AIrMwwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rqcFa8J7Edg/WXkNlD3zFUI/AAAAAAAACn0/KUmYI7sBgeQq81GpIvVAI1eJXe2AIrMwwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1942.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I did stop to admire my window boxes. They are doing well now, filling in nicely. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZSfhqwJjHU/WXkN7HwFtYI/AAAAAAAACn4/k0gwJ9yAwFsubW-a-pTO11vPW8KnfchjQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZSfhqwJjHU/WXkN7HwFtYI/AAAAAAAACn4/k0gwJ9yAwFsubW-a-pTO11vPW8KnfchjQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1940.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really like creeping jenny in window boxes and urns. It makes them look so feminine and pretty. <br /><br />Did I mention how much I love crocosmia? It is the reedy looking plant with the red flowers.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FevOQdEnDJA/WXkOtAtAXVI/AAAAAAAACn8/NfVt6JwEy9kWio_kRDbEM6hTzLjXpvYiQCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FevOQdEnDJA/WXkOtAtAXVI/AAAAAAAACn8/NfVt6JwEy9kWio_kRDbEM6hTzLjXpvYiQCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1937.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I came in to have a snack (and to bandage up a blister that I still managed to get even though I was wearing gloves), and then naturally it started to rain. So I did not get the raked apples loaded up into the cart yet, but they'll certainly be waiting for me when the rain does eventually end. <br /><br />Guess who isn't the least bit bothered by the rain?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-flXdga9VEj4/WXkPeHdmozI/AAAAAAAACoA/VPwpVlsHJU0VuxH0UXIQRIX5xVAVRSR3QCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-flXdga9VEj4/WXkPeHdmozI/AAAAAAAACoA/VPwpVlsHJU0VuxH0UXIQRIX5xVAVRSR3QCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_1934.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />coffeeontheporchwithmehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17618627688821849806noreply@blogger.com37